Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra would be the center of attraction at Bathinda and Ranbir Singh on concluding ceremony at Ludhiana : Sukhbir Singh Badal

• 20 TEAMS REPRESENTING 14 NATIONS TO VIE IN 4^TH WORLD CUP KABBADI STARTING FROM NOVEMBER 30
• EIGHT WOMEN TEAMS TO PARTICIPATE
• PUNJAB’S NEXT TASK TO INCLUDE KABADDI IN ASIAN GAMES BEFORE ENTERING OLYMPIC
• Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister To Be The Chief Guest On Closing Ceremony : Sukhbir Badal

The Punjab is all set to kick off 4^th edition of World Cup Kabaddi from November 30 and Pakistan Punjab’s Chief Minister Mr. Shahbaz Sharif would be the chief guest of final match at Ludhiana on December 14. As many as 20 nations would vie for the title out of which 12 in men section and 8 teams in the women section.

Addressing media persons here Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal informed that the opening ceremony would be presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal while the concluding ceremony Pakistan Punjab’s Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif would distribute the awards to the winners and runners-up teams. He said that Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra would be the center of attraction at Bathinda and Ranbir Singh on concluding ceremony at Ludhiana.

Mr. Badal reiterated his commitment to bring this rural game to Olympic and said that it was the restless efforts of Punjab Government, which popularized this indigenous game to those countries, which had never heard about Kabaddi, traditional game of Punjab. He said that Punjab has set an example for Center and other states how to promote their rural games on the world sports arena and to channelise energy of youth for building a strong nation. “Next target of Punjab Government is to include this game into the fold of Asian Games before entering to Olympic,” he added.

The Deputy CM also informed that 20 teams from 6 continents including last year’s champion India, Pakistan, Argentina, America, England, Canada, Sierra Leone, Iran, Denmark, Kenya, Spain, Scotland would vie for men title and Women section would have the teams of Pakistan, Mexico, New Zealand, Kenya, America, England, Denmark and India. He said that the league matches would be held at Bathinda, Patiala, Chohla Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Doda (Muktsar), Amritsar, Jalalabad, Roop Nagar, Sangrur, Mansa, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.  He said that the men title winner team would get a cash prize of Rs. 2 crore and in women category Rs. one crore would be given. He said that the first and second runners up team in men category would be awarded with cash prizes of Rs. one crore and Rs. 51 lakh respectively while in women category the prize would be Rs. 51 lakh and Rs. 25 lakh respectively. He said that Rs. 15 lakh would be given to teams of Argentina, Canada, America, Mexico, Sierra Leone as guarantee money whereas Rs. 10 lakh would be given to remaining teams. He also announced that from the next edition of this World Championship the prizes for both categories would be equal.

Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government has received a massive response to this traditional game as big nations of different continents evince their interests to form their Kabaddi teams. He said that this time the teams of New Zealand, Kenya and Mexico would have their citizens in their teams. He said that in women section Pakistan and Mexican team is participating first time. He said that Punjab Government had provided coaches to some nations for imparting Kabaddi skills with an aim to form professional teams. He said that Best Raider and Best Stopper would also be awarded with Tractors.

The 4^th WCKP-2013 would be a drug free mega international event. Anti-Doping Committee under NADA will conduct Dope Tests during the tournament. An Anti Dope Committee has been formed which will be responsible to manage Pre and Post Anti Doping Affairs and submit a report to Organizing Committee on conclusion of the programme. Justice (Retd.) R.S. Mongia would head the high level panel to supervise the entire event, said Mr. Badal.

Regarding the formation of Indian teams, a Selection Committee, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Sikandar Singh Maluka, Education Minister, Punjab and President, Punjab Kabaddi Association has been formed which has selected 30 probable each in Men and Women Sections for the coaching camps going on at Bathinda and Jalandhar, respectively. Prior to this, the Selection Committee conducted Selection Trails for Men on 09^th and 10^th November, 2013 and for Women on 11 and 12^th at Ludhiana. NADA has conducted Dope Tests on the Indian probable Men and Women on 23^rd and 24^th November, 2013, respectively. The teams will be declared only after the declaration of results so those drugs free Indian Teams are fielded in the tournament.