Punjab to host second edition of Kabaddi World Cup

Punjab will host the second edition of Kabaddi World Cup starting from November 1.

Thirteen countries including Argentina, Pakistan, USA, Canada, UK, Italy, Norway and Afghanistan would be partcipating in men’s category. For the first time, this year, Women World Cup kabaddi is being organised and four countries including UK, USA, Turkmenistan and India in women category are in the fray for the cup.

The opening ceremony would be held at Bathinda whereas the final match and closing ceremony would be organised at Ludhiana.

Addressing the media, Punjab deputy chief minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal said that his aim to give international recognition to Punjab’s traditional game kabaddi has been partially achieved as more than 13 countries are participating in second edition of World Cup kabaddi and four countries would participate for women world cup kabaddi.

Badal said that 13 countries including Argentina, Pakistan, USA, Canada, UK, Italy, Norway, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Germany, Spain and hosts India would be in the Men Section. He said that for the first time Women World Cup Kabaddi was being organized and four countries including UK, USA, Turkmenistan and India in Women Section were in the fray for the fabulous prize money.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that to motivate the players the prize money has been doubled to Rs 2 Crore for the winner, whereas runners-up would get Rs 1 crore, third place holders would be getting Rs 51 lakh. He said that all participating teams would be given Rs. 10 lakh. In the women Kabaddi first position holder Women Team gets 25 lakh. Second, Third and Forth get Rs 15 lakh, 10 lakh each respectively. It has also been decided to give Tractors one each to Best Raider and Best Catcher of the Final Match for Men.

Badal said that efforts have been made to organize these matches in the rural heartland of Punjab. He said that 6 venues were floodlit and these venues, matches would be organized during night time after 6 PM whereas another venues matches would be organized during day time. The Kabaddi matches would be organized at Bathinda, Faridkot, Gurdaspur, Dhudike (Moga), Roopnagar, Sangrur, Chohla Sahib (Tarntaran), YPS Patiala, Kapurthala, Doda (Mukatsar), Amritsar, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Mansa, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Ludhiana.