Chandigarh: With the last-minute withdrawal
of Norway, a total of nine nations, including Pakistan and the
United States, will now vie for the top honour during the
inaugural World Cup Kabaddi Punjab (WCKP) championship to be
held from April 3-12.
The Rs 2.16 crore tournament, which will be an annual
event, will be held at different venues across the state. The
event offers Rs 1 crore to the winning team and Rs 51 lakhs
for the runner-up side.
Announcing the revised schedule, Organising Secretary
Pargat Singh said that the teams have been divided into two
pools. Hosts India have been placed in Pool A while their
traditional rivals Pakistan are in Pool B.
USA, Australia, Italy and Iran are in Pool A, while
Canada, United Kingdom and Spain are in Pool B.
Pargat said the opening ceremony will be held at Patiala
on April 3 and India have been drawn to meet the USA in the
inaugural match on the opening day.
He said on the opening day only one match will be played.
Three mathces will be conducted daily during the league phase
of the tournament.
Two top teams from each pool will qualify for semi-finals
which will be played at Bathinda on April 10. Classification
matches for the third and fourth places and final will be
played at Ludhiana on April 12.
Meanwhile, the organising committee, under the
chairmanship of Secretary Sports P S Aujla, today reviewed the
security arrangements as the teams would start arriving from
tomorrow. The Pakistan team will be received at the Wagha
Border in Amritsar tomorrow, Pargat said.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, April 01, 2010, 21:00