With an aim to encourage people towards sports, district administration is organizing the biggest ever sports extravaganza, Kabaddi Carnival, starting from 26 February. Rural youth and elderly would compete equally in different sports events to be held at block and district levels in the Carnival.Divulging more details about the showbiz Bathinda Deputy Commissioner, Praneet said that this will be the biggest ever sports extravaganza in which the rural youth (girls and boys) and the elected panches, sarpanches will participate. The events at block level would be held on February 26 and February 27 and the winner teams from all each block would then participate in the sports events at district level in Multipurpose Sports Stadium on March-1 and March-2, he said. Mr. Praneet categorically said that the Great Khali will be the Brand Ambassador for this sports extravaganza, who visited Bathinda today to motivate the youth for sports.The Deputy Commissioner said that officers from various departments have been assigned different duties at all the venues for these events for successful completion of the sports events. He said that the chief aim of organizing this Carnival is to bring out the talent of rural youth and to encourage the elderly people to participate in sports activities."We are not focusing our attention towards the professional teams or individuals but fresh, young and elderly individuals or teams. A total of 296 kabaddi teams would be formed in their respective, nine, blocks," DC Praneet said.He added that the winners from each block would be selected after which final events would be held at Multipurpose Sports Stadium in Bathinda.
The DC pointed out that every participant would have to get his name cleared for the participation from their respective village panchayat.Apart from races, tug-of-war and shot-put, 18 kabaddi teams--9 each of Open Category and Punjab Style (55kg) would also participate.First winner would get cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh, second Rs 1.5 lakh and third prize would be of Rs 51,000.In the show matches of elected panchayat members and sarpanches for kabaddi at Multipurpose Sports Stadium on 2 March, Rs 1 lakh would be given to the winner team and Rs 75,000 would be given to the team which will stood second. Show match of girls teams of kabaddi would also be held on March-2 at Multipurpose Sports Stadium wherein Rs 51,000 would be given to the winner and Rs 31,000 to the team which will stood second.The individuals (boys and girls) in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meter races on March-1 and 2 at Multipurpose Sports Stadium would get Rs 5,100 (first), Rs 3,100 (second) and Rs 2,100 (third).The men and women in the shot-put on March-1 and March-2 at Multipurpose Sports Stadium would get Rs 7,100 (first) and Rs 5,100 (second).Cash prizes of Rs 5,100, Rs 3,100 and Rs 2,100 is for the first second and third winners for the 100, 200 and 400 meter races to be organized for class XI students. For the 100, 200 and 400 meter races to be organized for class XI (girls and boys), Rs 5100, Rs 3100 and Rs 2100 would be given for the first, second and third winners respectively.In the tug-of-war, Rs 21,000, Rs 11,000 and Rs 5100 would be the cash prize for first, second and the third winner.He said that on the concluding day, Punjabi singer Dilpreet Dhillon, Ranjeet Bawa and Amrit Mann will enthrall the audience with their melodious songs.