A 22-year-old Indian-origin nurse says he has been left traumatised after an alleged racially motivated assault outside a gym in Corio. Geelong, Victoria.

Harmanpreet Singh was taken to hospital with a broken nose after the late-night incident, which he claims began with verbal abuse while he was training inside the gym about 11pm.

Speaking to 9News, Harmanpreet said he was subjected to racist taunts, including being called an “Indian dog” and told to “go back to where you came from”.

“No one wants to hear this — especially when you are minding your own business,” he said.

“I am still traumatised.”

Harmanpreet alleges a young man and two others began harassing him during his workout. He claims that when he finished and stepped outside, the group was waiting.

“They just wanted to attack. I wasn’t provoking anything. I was being calm. I was literally saying, ‘I don’t want to fight you guys’.”

According to Harmanpreet, the alleged offender moved close to his face before striking him, causing his nose to bleed immediately.

The attacker reportedly fled the scene in a grey sedan.

Harmanpreet spent the night in hospital and will now need to see a specialist, with surgery a possibility. He is expected to be off work for about a week.

Harmanpreet’s sister, Khushi Kaur, said the family was deeply shaken.

“It is very sad to see a community behaving like that.”

Harmanpreet said this was not the first time he had experienced racial abuse, but described the alleged assault as particularly confronting.

“I try to keep myself strong and not to care about such things, but it hurts,” he said.

“There’s no point to racism.”

Now fearful for his safety, Harmanpreet says he is unsure whether he will return to the gym — or even remain in his current home. “I don’t feel safe after this,” he said.

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