By Sanjay Pahwa: Chandigarh : Announcing to double the prize money to Rs. 2 crore for World Cup Kabaddi tournament being organized IN Punjab; Deputy Chief Minister S.Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Punjab is all set to organize exhibition matches of Women Kabaddi team for Five Nations during World Cup Kabaddi scheduled in last week of October and 1st week of November this year.
. Reviewing the arrangement for World Cup Kabaddi in the high level meeting with Sports Department and office bearers of Punjab Kabaddi Association the Deputy Chief Minister said that there was also a need to encourage Women Kabaddi team beside World Kabaddi and it was decided that exhibition matches of women kabaddi team of five countries including INDIA, USA, Canada , UK and Iran would participate in these matches. For the women section prize money would be 25 Lakh for the winner and 15 lakh for runner up & 10 lakh each for other participating teams. He said that it was for the first time that any international tournament for women kabaddi would be organized with such high prize money.Finalizing the arrangements for World Cup Kabaddi it was decided that 16 nations would vie for World Cup Kabaddi title and there would be divided into four leagues having four countries each. The country stopping each league would qualify for semi finals. He said that the prize money for the title has been doubled to two crore where as team securing 2nd and 3rd Position would get Rs. One Crore and Rs.51 Lakh respectively.
Mr. Badal said that All matches would be organized in the flood light and telecast live throughout the World fulfilling the long pending demand of Punjabis living in Canada USA , Europe, Australia and Gulf countries. 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. He said that this time it has been 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. 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.
Participating in the deliberation Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka President Punjab Kabaddi Association said that 16 nations that are going to participate in the tournament that be India, Pakistan, Iran, Canada, USA, UK, Italy, Australia, Spain, Afghanistan and New teams including Sri Lanka, Norway, Tiawan, Irish Army and Argentina. He said that like last tournament doping test would be conducted strictly on all participating players.