Pakistan women in Kabaddi World cup

New Delhi: Women from Pakistan among others will flex muscles at the 4th World Cup Kabaddi (circle style) to be held in Punjab from November 30 to December 14.

Besides hosts India, teams from Pakistan, England, Denmark, USA, Mexico, Kenya and New Zealand would participate in the event, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also chairman of the organising committee, said here on Tuesday. The world cup, organised by the Punjab government, will witness 12 teams in the men section and eight in the women section, vying for the top position. Men teams from India, Pakistan, Iran, England, Spain, Denmark, Scotland, USA, Canada, Argentina, Sierra Leon and Kenya would take part, he said. He said that in the men`s section the winner would bag Rs two crore while those finishing second and third would get Rs one crore and Rs 51 lakh respectively. In women`s category, the winner would get Rs one crore and the second and third placed team would receive Rs 51 lakh and Rs 25 lakh respectively, he added. The matches would be played at various places in the state including at Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar and Jalandhar. It will be a drug free event, he said while adding that anti-doping committee under NADA will conduct dope tests during the tournament. The overall budget for the tournament is Rs 20 crore. The state government had given a contract to a private firm to hold the opening and closing ceremony for which a separate Rs six crore will be spent. Actor Priyanka Chopra will enthral the crowd during the opening ceremony while Ranveer Singh will be performing at the closing ceremony on December 14, he said. Sukhbir said that "if the government at the centre changes after the polls next year, he will make efforts to take Kabaddi to Asian championship level."