Seventeen teams, including nine men and eight women, from 12 countries will vie for the World Cup Kabaddi title, to be held from December 6 to 20.
To organise the mega event, a budget of Rs17 crore has also been approved. Final touches to organise the glittering and gala ceremonies during opening and concluding of this mega event was also given by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal during a meeting held on late Thursday night.
It was also decided that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would be the chief guest of opening and closing ceremonies and Deputy Chief Minister will preside over the functions.
Giving details of the arrangements, Director Sports TS Dhaliwal said that in the men’s event, nine teams from India, USA, England, Pakistan, Spain, Denmark, Iran, Argentina and Australia, while eight women teams from India, USA, England, Denmark, Pakistan, New Zealand, Mexico and Azerbaijan will captivate the Kabbadi lovers with their heart stopping raids and defences.
Keeping in view the weather conditions, Sukhbir asked the organisers to conduct the Kabbadi matches during day time only.
It was resolved that both opening and closing ceremony at ceremony at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium Jalandhar and Village Badal stadium in Sri Muktsar Sahib respectively would be held at 6 pm whereas all matches except men’s final would be played during noon.
Men’s final would be held at village Badal along with closing ceremony while women’s final and contests for third and fourth positions in both sections would be played at sports stadium Barnala on December 19. The semifinals of both men and women would be organised at Kabaddi Stadium, Dirba in Sangrur district.