CHANDIGARH, OCT 13 : While hectic activities are going to conduct the second edition of the World Kabaddi Cup Punjab-2011 from November 1 to 20, the Punjab Sports Department in collaboration with the Punjab Kabaddi Association will hold selection trials to choose the Indian women team for the inaugural four-nation International Women Kabaddi on October 16 and 17 at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana. These trials were earlier scheduled for October 14 and 15.
Punjab Sports Director Pargat Singh said that women teams from India, USA, Iran and UK would be competing in the inaugural edition along with the 2nd World Kabaddi Cup Punjab-2011.Trials to select the men’s probables were recently organized in Ludhiana.
Seeing response from the foreign teams and the overwhelming turn out of spectators at venues of the first Nine-Nation World Kabaddi Cup Punjab-2011, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Sports Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had announced hiking of the prize money of Rs 2 crore for the winning team. The prize money for runners-up team has been doubled to Rs. 1 crore.
The team finishing third will get Rs 51 lakh. The remaining teams would get Rs 10 lakh each as appearance money.
In the women’s event, Mr Sukhbir Badal had announced that the winners would be presented a pay cheque of Rs 25 lakh. Runners-up and third place holders will receive Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively.
This time the matches will also be played in the remote villages of Punjab to provide an opportunity for the villagers to witness the world’s top teams in action. The matches will be held in 15 villages and cities of Punjab. Dhudike of Moga District, Doda of Sri Mukatsar Sahib and Chohla Sahib of Taran Tarn district are some of venues in the interior of Punjab.
Defending champions India, runners-up Pakistan, USA, UK, Canada, Iran, Afghanistan, Australia, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Norway, Germany and Sri Lanka have staked their claim for the top honours.
The opening ceremony and the semi-final matches would be held at Bathinda whereas the grand final will be played at GN Stadium in Ludhiana.Meanwhile, Mr Sukhbir Badal is keen inclusion of circle kabaddi in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games. The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister had recently visited Tabriz Iran) for the eight-nation Asian Circle Kabaddi. India had emerged winners and Pakistan were runners-up. Circle kabaddi is becoming popular in the world.