Chandigarh-----   Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, while taking stock of the forthcoming prestigious 4^thWorld Cup Kabbadi cup to be held in Punjab from 30^th November to 14^thDecember, said that the invitations to the participating teams have already been sent with the revised dates for the 4^th World Cup Kabbadi. The opening ceremony would be held in Sports Stadium Bathinda and the closing ceremony at Guru Nanak Stadium Ludhiana. H.E. Mr. Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain Former Prime Minster of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and President Pakistan Kabbadi Federation has also given his consent among other dignitaries to attend the mega event.

          Addressing an especially convened high level meeting for giving a go-ahead to its schedule, the deputy chief minister said there would be twelve Men Teams and eight Women Teams representing various countries participating in the 4th World Cup Kabbadi Tournament .Approximately Rs 20 crore budget for the prestigious mega tournament has been approved and the entire event would be telecast live not only in the country but also in Canada, USA and UK also, said Mr. Badal. The countries which represent Men Team included India, Argentina, USA, England, Canada, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Iran, Denmark, Kenya, Scotland and Spain where as the Women Teams included India, USA, England, Denmark, Iran, Mexico, Kenya and Pakistan.

Mr. Badal also said that The league matches would be played in 13 stadiums including Outdoor stadium Hoshiapur, Guru Nanak stadium Amritsar, Sports stadium, Badal at Muktsar,  War Heroes stadium Sangrur, Nehru stadium Ropar, Sports stadium Chohla Sahib, Sports stadium Jalalabad, Government College Gurdaspur,  NM Government College Mansa and Guru Gobind Stadium Jalandhar.

            Mr. Badal further said that elaborate arrangements have been made to keep this international Kabaddi cup drugs free. He said that for this purpose, National Anti Dope Agency (NADA) has deputed teams for conducting dope test on the players. The blood samples would be collected before the tournament and 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. The expenditure incurred has been worked out in consultation with Dr. Manmohan Singh Chairman Anti Dope Commission, said Mr. Badal.

          The Government would also constitute a team under the Chairmanship of a Retired Judge of High Court to monitor and oversee the conduct of the Tournament to ensure that it is held in accordance with the rules of the game. Besides ensuring the drug free game, the government would also take adequate measures to prevent betting, said Mr. Badal.

        Prominent among other who were present in the meeting included Revenue & PR Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Local Government Minister Mr. Anil Joshi, Education Minister Mr. Sikandar Singh Maluka, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. P.S. Aujla, Secretary Sports Mr. Ashok Gupta, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Ajay Mahajan and Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Director Sports Mr. Shivdular Singh Dhillon.