The Punjab is all set for 4th World Cup Kabaddi with Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal presiding over the organizing committee gave final touches to its schedule.The World Cup Kabaddi would be held from 9 to 23 November and inaugural function would be held at multipurpose stadium Bathinda while the teams would clash for World Cup title at Guru Nanak Stadium Ludhiana. The league matches would be played in 13 stadiums including outdoor stadium Hoshiapur, Guru Nanak Stadium Amritsar, Sports Stadium Doda, War Heroes Stadium Sangrur, Nehru Stadium Ropar, Sports Stadium Chohla Sahib, Sports Stadium Jalalabad, Government College Gurdaspur, NM Government College Mansa. The Semifinals for men would be held at Bathinda whereas Final of women would be held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium Jalandhar.
Doubling the prize money for the women, Mr. Badal said that the winner team would get Rs. 1 crore, with Rs. 51 lakh for second and Rs. 25 lakh for third position. In the men section winner team would get Rs. 2 crore, with Rs. 1 crore for runners up and Rs. 51 lakh for third position. Participating teams would get Rs. 15 lakh each.Approving Rs. 20 crore budget for the 4th World Cup Kabaddi, Mr. Badal said that glittering opening and closing ceremonies will be telecasted live throughout the country and in Canada, USA and UK also. In the men team 10 teams including India, Argentina, USA, UK, Canada, Pakistan, Seirra Leone, Iran, Scotland, Kenya and Denmark would participate whereas in the women section India, USA, UK, Turkmenistan, Denmark and Kenya would participate.
Issuing strict instructions for ensuring dope free tournament, Mr. Badal said that every participant player would have to undergo dope test as prescribed by NADA and sanctioned Rs. 50 lakh budget for dope tests. Reiterating his commitment to take kabaddi to Olympic level, Mr. Badal issued instructions to Sports Department to sent Kabaddi coaches to all participating countries to give them technical training for three months so that all teams should come fully prepared for the 4th World Cup Kabaddi.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Member Parliament, Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Education Minister, Mr. Pawan Kumar Teenu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Pargat Singh, MLA, Mr. N.S. Kang, FCR, Mr. S.K. Sandhu, Principal Secretary to CM, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM, Mr. S.S. Channi, Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs, Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, Principal Secretary Industries, Mr. Anurag Verma, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr. A.Venu Prasad, Secretary Urban Development, Mr. Ashok Gupta, Secretary Sports, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Chief Administrator PUDA, Mr. Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, Director Sports and Mr. Ajay Kumar Mahajan, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy CM.