CHANDIGARH: The state of Punjab is all set to imbue with the fervour of their mother game Kabaddi with the thumping start of 3rd World Cup Kabaddi at Multipurpose Stadium of Bathinda. This Kabaddi extravaganza would commence under the whitish flood lights amid colourful and cultural showcase of Punjabi culture on December 1, 2012.
Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal has today purposely descended to the stadium to inspect the final preparedness of the administration and the sports authority. He was accompanied by Sikander Singh Maluka, President Punjab Kabaddi Association and Education Minister and Saroop Chand Singla, Chief Parliamentary Secretary.
After the surveillance of the stadium, Badal said that all the preparations for conducting this international event have been concluded. He said that Kabaddi is very dear to the Punjabis, which consider it as their mother game. DCM said that it is matter of proud that Kabaddi has progressed leaps and bounds, which is evident from the fact that in the first World Kabaddi Cup only 9 international teams participated, whereas in third edition of the World Kabaddi Cup, 23 countries from all the six continents have come down to play.
Badal further said that a new sport revolution has whirl-winded the state. He announced that the Punjab Government has decided to induct sports as compulsory subject in school curriculum. He said that the contents of this subject would be at par with international standards.
Deputy Chief Minister said that Kabaddi is also getting popularity in the fairer sex as the number of woman teams participating in this international event has increased from four to seven. He said that 250 women sportspersons have given trials to get birth in Indian women Kabaddi team.
Badal said that elaborate arrangements have been made to keep this international Kabaddi extravaganza drugs free. He said that for this purpose, National Anti Dope Agency (NADA) has deputed teams for conducting dope test on the players. He said that the samples of dope would be tested from the laboratories duly recognized by World Anti Dope Agency (WADA). He said that anyone found guilty of taking drugs would be banned for two years, besides curtailment of prize money. Badal said that Rs.40 lakhs has been spared for dope tests.
He said that teams of men section have been divided in four pools. Pool A would consist of India, Afghanistan, England 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.
Divulging details of matches to be played between teams at different stadiums, Deputy Chief Minister said that on December 2 matches of men teams would be played at Patiala from 6:30 pm 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 Dy CM 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.
Badal said that only final of men category would be played on December 15, 2012 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.
