“The Punjab Government is fully committed to the creation of a robust sporting infrastructure in the state so as to attract the youth towards sports. It is in keeping with this ideology that the Sports Department has chalked out a comprehensive roadmap to organize an International Style kabaddi tournament besides other competitions such as Cycle Rally and Jallianwala Bagh Centenary Federation Cup Volleyball tournament in commemoration of the 550th Parkash Purb celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.”Disclosing this here today while presiding over a meeting held in connection with the above mentioned upcoming sporting events, the Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Punjab, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said that an International Kabaddi tournament would be held across the entire State from 1st-15th December, 2019. Divulging more, he said that a total of 9 teams would participate in the tournament including hosts India. Invitations would be sent to the teams from USA, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, England, Canada, Sri Lanka while Kenya has been kept on standby. He further said that this tournament would be played in Circle Style format while the matches to be played across the state at District level would be as per National Style format. The minister also divulged that the winning team would be given the prize money of Rs. 25 lakhs while all the teams would be provided tickets, boarding and lodging.
Elaborating about the Cycle Rally, the minister said that the event would be held on 2nd of November and would begin at 9 AM from Amritsar and come to culmination at Dera Baba Nanak. He also assured that full proof security and medical arrangements would be made for the participating cyclists.Detailing more, the minister said that a Federation Gold Cup Volleyball tournament dedicated to the Centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre would also be organized from 27th September to 3rd October at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.Reiterating that these sporting events would go a long way in taking forward the ‘Mission Tandarust Punjab’ by making the youth of the state take up sports and make the State as well as the country proud, the minister further said that the sporting events are in perfect sync with the philosophy of Guru Sahiban about having a sound mind in a sound body. He also said that adequate arrangements be made to ensure the success of these events and no laxity would be tolerated in this regard.Among others present on the occasion included the Additional Chief Secretary Sports Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Special Secretary Health and Family Welfare Mr. Praneet Bhardwaj, Director Sports Mr. Rahul Gupta, President Punjab Kabaddi Association Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Vice President Punjab Kabaddi Association Mr. Tejinder Singh Middhukhera, IG (Law and Order) Mr. A.K. Pandey, Director Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Vice President Volleyball Federation of India Mr. Vijay Pal Singh, General Secretary Cycling Association of Punjab Mr. K.V.S. Sidhu, Joint Director Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mr. Lakhmir Singh, Assistant Director Sports Mr. Kartar Singh Sehamby and XEN Sports Mr. Sanjay Mahajan.