The Punjab Government would organize Global Kababdi League from 14th October to 3rd November and the inauguration of the same would be held at the Olympian Surjit Hockey stadium at Burlton Park. The matches of the league, which is being held with the assistance of Tutt Brothers (private sponsors), would be played at Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali and the closing as well as the finals would be held at the hockey stadium, phase-9. The Chief Guest would be the Chief Minister, Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh. This was disclosed here today by the Sports Minister, Punjab, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi in a press communiqué after a high level review meeting. The meeting also saw Labour Minister, Punjab, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Food and Civil Supply Minister, Punjab, Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Lok Sabha MP Mr. Ravneet Singh Bittu.Rana Sodhi further said that Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh is undertaking specialized efforts to uplift the level of sports in the state and it is in keeping with these efforts that Punjab has come out with a comprehensive sports policy. He also said that the Punjab Government is fully committed to propagate mother game kabaddi.The minister also divulged that the league is 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 would be provided by the State Government. He also detailed that 6 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 with each for top honours. He also added that every team would play with each other twice and therefore every team would get to play a total of 10 matches.Providing details about the match venues, the minister said that the opening ceremony and league match would be held at Jalandhar from 14th-21st October. Besides this, the league matches would also be played at hockey stadium in PAU Ludhiana from 24-29 October.
The final and closing ceremony would be held at Mohali from 1st-3rd November apart from other matches. A committee formed under the Chief Patronship of the Chief Minister at the state level is overseeing the arrangements. The District level committees have also been constituted at the 3 places above. The committee at Jalandhar has been formed under MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, At Ludhiana under Mr. Ravneet Singh Bittu MP and Cabinet Minister Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu and At Mohali under Cabinet Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu. The committees at all the three places include local MLAs, Civil and police officials.Appreciating the initiative of the sponsors of the league Tutt Brothers, Rana Sodhi underlined the fact that the assistance and support of the private players and the NRI diaspora is necessary for giving fillip to the sports sphere.Among others present on the occasion included Mr. Fatehjang Singh Bajwa, Mr. Navtej Singh Cheena, Mr. Rajinder Berri, Mr. Sanjeev Talwar and Mr. Kuldeep Singh Vaid (All MLAs), Principal Secretary, Sports, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Director Sports Mrs. Amrit Kaur Gill, Secretary General of the Punjab Olympic Association Raja K.S. Sidhu, DGP Mr. Hardeep Singh Dhillon, Commissioner Jalandhar Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Commissioner Jalandhar Municipal Corporation Mr. D. Lakra, Commissioner Ludhiana Mr. P.K. Sinha, SSP Mohali Mr. Kuldeep Chahal, ADC Mr. Charandev Singh Mann, Chief Sponsor of the league Tutt Brotehrs (Surjit Singh and Ranjit Singh Rana), Mr. Yogesh Chhabra, Legal Advisor of the league Advocate Mr. Harpreet Singh Sandhu, Mr. Kartar Singh, Additional Director Information and Public Relations Department Dr. Senu Duggal and Assistant Director Sports Mr. Kartar Singh Sehamby & President Africa Kabbadi Association Captain Harish Kumar Singh.