Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi (centre) interacts with the media in Chandigarh on Friday. Manoj Mahajan
Chandigarh, November 29
The Punjab Government will host the Special Edition of International Kabaddi Tournament-2019 to mark the 550th Prakash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev from December 1 at Guru Nanak Stadium, Sultanpur Lodhi.
Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Punjab Sports and Youth Services & NRI Affairs Minister, said that over 160 players from nine different countries will participate in this tournament. As many as eight countries-India, Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and USA-will participate in it. "The Canadian team had got NOC from the Union Government while the approval to Pakistan time is still awaited and hopefully it would be issued soon. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, while the runner-up will bag Rs 15 lakh. The team finishing third will purse Rs 10 lakh," said Sodhi.
Sodhi said that the opening ceremony will be held at Guru Nanak Stadium, Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district on December 1 (11am) and the closing ceremony will take place at Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur) on December 10 (11am). "Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh would be the chief guest at the closing ceremony and will distribute the prizes to the winners. The other matches will be played at Guru Nanak Stadium( Amritsar) on December 3, Guru Ram Das Stadium (Guru Harsahai Ferozepur) on December 4, Outdoor Sports Stadium (Bathinda) will host the matches on December 5, while Polo Ground ( Patiala) will host the next matches on December 6," said Sodhi.
"The semifinals will be held at Charan Ganga Stadium (Sri Anandpur Sahib) on December 8 and the final will be played at Dera Baba Nanak on December 10."
He further added, "The sports department had devised a detailed plan and also constituted committees to conduct the tournament. All tournament venues have been prepared meticulously under the guidance of experts.” He did not forget to mention government's efforts to uplift sports in the state and about notifying New Sports Policy 2018.
"According to the policy, maximum facilities, cash awards and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awards have been awarded to the sportspersons which tantamount to three times the hike of the existing facilities and cash awards," said Sodhi. —TNS
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