Thaindian News

Chandigarh, March 29 (IANS) The Punjab government has received an overwhelming reponse for the first Kabaddi World Cup with as many as 15 private sponsors stepping in for the event.
Called ‘World Cup Kabaddi Punjab-2010′ (WCKP-2010), the tournament will be held at nine different locations in Punjab from April 3-12.

“WCKP has attracted enthusiastic response from across the world. Ten national teams of Pakistan, the US, the UK, Canada, Iran, Australia, Italy, Spain and Norway, besides hosts India, have confirmed their participation,” Bikram Singh Majithia, senior vice-chairperson of the organising committee of WCKP, told reporters here Monday.

“So far, we have got the support of 15 private sponsors. We are organising everything in a big way and our budget is in crores. This is happening for the first time in the history of Punjab that we are hosting a Rs.2.16 crore prize-money tournament besides other prizes.”

The team winning WCKP will receive a cash award of Rs.1 crore and the first runner-up will bag Rs.51 lakh. The second and third runner-up teams will take home Rs.25 lakh and Rs.10 lakh.

Besides, Rs.500,000 each will be given to other participating teams.

“Besides cash prizes, tractors will be given to the best raider and best catcher of the teams that reach semi-finals. Motorcycles will be given to the best raider and catcher in every match,” stated Majithia.

He said WCKP will now be an annual feature and from next year more countries will be invited to the event.

Acknowledging the popularity of kabaddi in Punjab, the state government last year included it in the sports gradation policy of Punjab.

Elaborate arrangements have also been made to attract spectators to the venues of the kabaddi matches.

“Colourful opening and closing ceremonies have been planned. Noted folk singers and artistes like Jasbir Jassi, Bhagwant Mann and Master Salim would perform to enthrall the crowd during all the matches,” pointed out Majithia, who is also the Akali Dal legislator in Punjab.

However, in a major embarrassment before the event, thirteen of the 29 Indian players failed a dope test. The samples of the players were collected March 20 and sent to the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi.

Talking on the issue, Majithia said, “All samples collected would be sent to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi. Stringent action will be taken against those who tested positive in the dope test.”