One of the biggest sporting extravaganzas of the country, the maiden Global Kabaddi League under aegis of ‘Tandarust Punjab Mission’ today began with a great pomp and show as the Sports Minister Punjab Mr Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi inaugurated this mega sporting event here at the local Surjit Hockey Academy Stadium, Burlton park.Announcing the opening of this 20 days long much awaited gala sporting event till November 3, the Sports Minister said that in this mega event six teams would vie for the title. Mr. Rana Sodhi further said that Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh was undertaking specialized efforts to uplift the level of sports in the state for which Punjab has came out with a comprehensive sports policy. He also said that the Punjab Government was fully committed to promote mother game kabaddi.The Minister said that the league was being held by the Sports Department with the assistance of the private sponsors and the entire expenses would be borne by the sponsors whereas the administrative help and the stadiums was being provided by the State Government. He said that six teams namely California Eaglea (USA), Maple Leaf (Canada), Singh Warriors (Punjab), Black Panthers (Fresno, USA), Haryana Lions (India) and Doaba Warriors (USA) would participate in the league and vie for title. He also added that every team would play with each other twice and therefore every team would get to play a total of 10
The Minister said that the state government was making all out efforts for promoting sports across the state to channelize the unbounded energy of youth in a positive manner. He said that the sports policy of the state government was a right step towards this direction as it provides jobs as it emphasizes not only on enhancing the prize money of various National and International tournaments but also ensuring a robust and top notch sports infrastructure in Punjab aiming at producing champions for national and international events. Mr. Sodhi said that the Sports policy of India was the best one in the country which aims to produce top sportsman for national and international level.The Minister envisioned that the policy would emerge Punjab as frontrunner state in the country in arena of sports. He said that Kabaddi was our traditional game which was associated with our adding that it was a team context game. Mr. Sodhi said that Kabaddi was a martial and only those with strong biceps could play this game.Expressing gratitude towards NRIs for cming forward to organize this event, the Minister said that it would help in boosting sporting activity in the state. He also said that more NRIs have evinced keen interest in organizing such mega events in future.On the occasion, Lok Sabha Member from Jalandhar Chaudhary Santokh Singh, MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh, Mr. Sushil Kumar Rinku, Mr. Rajinder Beri, Mr. Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, Mr. Fatehjeet Singh Bajwa and Mr. Navtej Singh Cheema, Chairman Markfed Mr. Amarjeet Singh Samra, Former MLA Mr. Kewal SinghDhillon, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma, Police Commissioner Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, IG Crime Mr. PK Sinha, ADC Jalandhar Mr. Jasbir Singh, ADC Ludhiana Mr. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, SDM-II Mr. Paramvir Singh, Mr. Surjeet Singh Tut, Mr. Amarjeet Singh Tut, Mr. Ranjeet Singh Tut, Mr. Ranbir Singh Tut, Mr. Yogesh Chabra, Mr. Surinder Singh Bhapa and others were also present.