The Punjab is all set to kick start sports extravaganza with the inauguration of 3rd World Cup Kabaddi, in which 23 nations from all six continents would vie for record prize money of Rs. 4.54 crore. Disclosing this here today Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, who has single handedly taken the traditional game of Kabaddi to the World Level informed that it was gratifying to see that 16 countries from all six continents, including 8 countries in which no player from Indian origin was there, would participate in the 3rd edition of World Cup Kabaddi. He said that countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Canada, Denmark, England, Iran, Italy, Kenya, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, USA including India in Men Section and Canada, Denmark, England, Malaysia, Turkmenistan, USA and India in Women Section are in the fray for the fabulous prize money Pearls 3rd World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab-2012 from December 1 to 15. Mr. Badal said that Punjab Sports Department was fully geared up to host the mega event and Kabaddi would enthrall the audience at Bathinda, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Doda (Mukatsar), Sangrur, Roopnagar, Chohla Sahib (Tarntaran), Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Mansa, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.Mr. Badal said that the Opening Ceremony of the event will be held at Bathinda on 1st December, 2012 and S. Parkash Singh Badal, Hon’ble Chief Minister Punjab has very kindly consented to be the Chief Guest. On the Closing Ceremony and Men Final Miyan Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif Hon’ble Chief Minister, Punjab (Pakistan) would be the Chief Guest and give away prizes to the winners. The Semi Finals of the tournament will be held at Bathinda on 12th November, 2012. The losers of Semi Finals would vie for third and fourth place and Women Finals will be held at Jalandhar on 13.12.2012.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that Bollywood Star Akshay Kumar would be the star attraction of the opening ceremony and people of Punjab should expect a stunning surprise in the closing ceremony to be held in Ludhiana. He said that winners Men Team get Rs. 2.00 crore; runners-up Rs 1.00 crore, third place holders Rs 51.00 lacs.Mr. Badal said that First position holder Women Team gets 51.00 lac against 25 lac given last year. Second and Third get Rs 31.00 and 21.00 lac respectively. Teams from far away places like Argentina, Canada, USA etc. get Rs 15.00 lac or air fair. All other teams get a Guarantee Money of Rs 10.00 lac. Reiterating his resolve to make Kabaddi drug free, Mr. Badal said that he has issued directions to ensure that third world cup kabaddi should be totally dope free tournament and the services of NADA has been requisitioned to conduct regular tests on the players and players failing the dope test would be barred for two years besides seizing their prize money or participation money.
Releasing the mascot of 3rd World Cup Kabaddi, ‘JAANBAAZ’, Mr. Badal said that this mascot symbolizes the motto of “Aim High, Fly High, Go For Sports and Fight Drugs”. Mr. Badal said that he was happy that with the popularization of Kabaddi, village youth have again started concentrating on this game and making it their profession.Mr. Badal said that Denmark has already given official recognition to Circle Kabaddi and they are sending their team to World Cup. He said that Denmark has already offered to host 4th World Cup Kabaddi at Denmark. He said that Director Sports, International Olympic Association has sent a communiqué to me congratulating us for popularizing this traditional game and wishing good luck on behalf of IOA. Mr. Badal said that he was happy that Kabaddi was getting international recognition and time is not far off, when it would be included in Asian Games and Olympics. Mr. Badal said that teams of men section have been pided in four pools. He said that in pool A would consist of India, England, Afghanistan and Denmark while Canada, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Norway would be in pool B, Pool C would consist of Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Scotland and Italy whereas Pool D would contain Argentina, Iran, Kenya and USA. He said that there would be two pools in women category, India, Canada and Denmark would be in Pool A while the teams of England, Turkmenistan, USA and Malaysia are in pool B. Giving details of matches to be played between teams at different stadiums, Mr. Badal said that on December 2 matches of men teams would be played at Patiala from 6:30pm onwards between England Vs Denmark, New Zealand Vs Norway and India Vs Afghanistan, On December 3 matches would be held at Hoshiarpur from 1pm onwards between Argentina Vs Iran, Scotland Vs Italy and Pakistan Vs Sierra Leone, on December 4 matches would be played at Amritsar from 6:30pm between Argentina Vs USA, Iran Vs Kenya and Pakistan Vs Scotland, on December 5 Doda (Mukatsar) would witness the matches from 1pm onwards between Afghanistan Vs Denmark, Canada Vs Denmark (Women), Sri Lanka Vs Norway, on December 6 Sangrur would witness the matches from 12:30pm between England Vs Afghanistan, India Vs Denmark (Women), Turkmenistan Vs USA (Women), Canada Vs Sri Lanka, on December 7 the matches would be played at Roop Nagar from 1pm between Argentina Vs Kenya, USA Vs Malaysia (Women) and Iran Vs USA, on December 8 the matches would be played at Chohla Sahib (Tarn Taran) from 1pm between Sierra Leone Vs Scotland, England Vs USA (Women), Pakistan Vs Italy, December 9 would be witnessed the matches at M.R. Government College Stadium, Fazilka from 12:30pm between Canada Vs New Zealand, England Vs Malaysia (Women), India Vs Canada (Women) and India Vs England, on December 10 matches would be played at Gurdaspur from 6:30pm onwards between Sierra Leone Vs Italy, England Vs Turkmenistan (Women), Kenya Vs USA and December 11 would witness the matches from 12:30pm between the teams Canada Vs Norway, New Zealand Vs Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan Vs Malaysia (Women) and India Vs Denmark. The semi finals between winners of Pool-A Vs winner of Pool-D (I) would be played at Bathinda on December 12 from 6:30pm followed by II semi final between winner of pool-B Vs winner of pool-C and winner of Pool-A Vs runners of Pool-B (Women-I) and winner of Pool-B Vs runner of Pool-A (Women-II).
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the competitions for 3rd and 4th position of men category would be held at Jalandhar on December 13 from 6:30pm onwards between loser of I Vs loser of II followed by competitions of women category for 3rd and 4th position between Loser of I Vs Loser of II, while the Final of Women category would also be played on the same day at 8:30 pm. Mr. Badal said that only final of men category would be played on December 15 on the closing ceremony of 3rd World Cup Kabaddi at Ludhiana . He said that all the matches in both categories would be played on league-cum-knock out basis. He said that in men category top one team of each pool will qualify for the semis. PTC will telecast live Pearls 3rdWCKP-2012 matches, opening and closing ceremonies.Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal is Chief Patron while Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal is Chairman, S. Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Hon’ble Member Parliament and Sh. Sikander Singh Maluka, Hon’ble Education Minister Punjab are Senior Vice Chairmen, S. Bikram Singh Majithia Hon’ble Revenue, Rehabilitation, Information and Public Relation Minister, Sh. Pawan Kumar Teenu, Hon’ble Chief Parliamentary Secretary and S. Pargat Singh are the Vice Chairmen and Sh. Shivdular Singh Dhillon, PCS, Director Sports is the Organising Secretary.
Sh. Bikram Singh Majithia, Sr. Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee said that the Punjab Government is very keen to promote sports in a big way and properly chanalize the youth power. In this direction, a new result-oriented Sports Policy has been implemented in the state. Under the able guidance of Hon’ble Chief Minister Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal, the State Government has provided state-of-the-art-sports infrastructure in the state at a cost of more than 150.00 crores. 4 new Hockey Stadiums at Bathinda, Mohali, Faridkot and Sports School, Ghudda (Bathinda) have been developed at a cost of Rs 75.00 crore. 3 Hockey Stadiums namely Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar have been renovated at a cost of Rs 25.00 crore. 7 New Multipurpose Stadiums namely Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar have been constructed at a cost of Rs 50.00 crore. A new Synthetic Athletic Track has been laid at Sports School Ghudda (Bathinda) The Guru Nanak Stadium Ludhiana has also been updated at a cost of Rs 3.00 crore. One International Sports Hostel at Burlton Park, Jalandhar has been developed at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.Explaining that the rural masses are passionate about kabaddi and acknowledging the popularity of the game, Mr. Majithia said that the state Government has included this game in the Sports Gradation Policy, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award Policy and Cash Award Policy.Mr. Majithia and Mr. Maluka further said that colourful Opening and Closing Ceremonies have been planned and this task of cultural programme has been entrusted to an acclaimed event management company named Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai.Sh. P.S. Aujla, IAS, Secretary Sports and Executive Member Organizing Committee said that all efforts have been made to make this event drug free. An Anti Dope Committee has been formed which will be responsible to manage Pre and Post World Cup Kabaddi Anti Doping Affairs and submit a report to Organizing Committee on conclusion of the programme. He further informed that to facilitate the public, the matches of the event have been scattered to be conducted over 13 places through out the state. The semi-finals, finals, Opening and Closing Ceremonies and matches at Bathinda, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Patiala and Ludhiana would be conducted under flood lights and telecast live by PTC. The matches at other venues would also be telecast live by this channel. He also disclosed that, to look after the comfort and convenience of all participating teams, the Punjab Sports Department has appointed 2 liaison officers with the each team. He further added that eminent punjabi folk singers, comedians and artists would regale the audience at all the venues of this grand event. “We will set high standards in conducting the mega event. Efforts have been made to provide all comforts to the participating teams and officials accompanying” said Mr. Aujla.Regarding the formation of Indian teams, a Selection Committee, under the Chairmanship of International Kabaddi player Sh. Shiv Dev Singh has been formed which has selected 51 Men and 31 Women probables for the coaching camps going on at Bathinda and Ludhiana, respectively. Prior to this, the Selection Committee conducted Selection Trails for Men on 25.09.2012 and Women at Ludhiana on 19.11.2012.