Chandigarh June 19: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today set in motion grand preparations for 2nd World Cup Kabaddi, announcing it’s scheduled in last weak of October and 1st weak of November this year. Enthused by the massive public response to first World Cup Kabaddi, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal as decided to take this game to the hotbed of traditional Punjab style kabaddi game and it has been decided to hold the matches in the 12 venues mostly in the rural areas. 12 Nations including Pakistan , Canada and Afghanistan has already confirmed their participation in the 2nd World Cup Kabaddi more such countries were seeking queries from the organizers. The newly constructed flood lit stadium in Bathinda would witness glittering opening ceremony that is set to put opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games to a shade. Bathinda would also host both semifinals. The industrial city of Ludhiana would witness the culmination of 2nd World Cup Kabaddi as closing ceremony and final match would decide World Champion in the traditional game of Punjab.
This year World Cup Kabaddi is getting more response as Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has doubled the prize money for winning team to Two Crore which was the highest prize any where in the World in any amateur tournament. All matches would be organised in the flood light and telecaste live through out the World fulfilling the long pending demand of Punjabis living in Canada USA , Europe, Australia and Gulf countries. This year four new venues at Dhudike (Moga), Mansa, SBS Nagar (Nawansheher) and TaranTarn have been included to take this game to the rural hotbed of the State and Patiala , Jalandhar , Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur are set to welcome players from all over the World for this keenly contested 2nd World Cup Kabaddi.
This year 2nd prize would be 51 Lac , 3rd 25 Lac, 4th Prize 20 Lac and participating teams would get the double from last year that is 10 Lac. All teams would share a record 3.71 crore prize money. Construction work on 13 new stadiums being constructed at the cost of Rs. 111 crore was in full swing and all these flood lit stadiums would be ready to host World Cup Kabaddi by last weak of September. Giving a details about arrangements being made for World Cup Kabaddi Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka President Punjab Kabaddi Association said that all arrangements for conducting doping test on participating players and any player failing dope test would be shown door. He said that beside host India, the other teams including Canada , Pakistan , USA, Australia , Afganistan, UK, Iran, Italy , Norway , Spain and Irish army are set to clash in this high decibel tournament.