Ferozepur makes it to list of venues

Anirudh Gupta

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Ferozepur, October 6

The bifurcation of Ferozepur district following the creation of Fazilka not only “dented the economic prospects” of this border district, but had also taken away the privilege of hosting World Cup Kabaddi matches. These were organised here in 2011 but later, the venues were shifted to neighbouring towns, including Jalalabad which is represented by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The move had not only disappointed sportsmen hailing from the district but also local residents who were dismayed over the “step-motherly” treatment to this “city of martyrs”. Even this time, as per the original schedule of the tournament, this district was not included in the list of venues for the matches.

However, following the intervention of state BJP chief Kamal Sharma, who took up the matter with Sukhbir, the district has been again bestowed with the honour of playing host to the bronze medal match on October 27. Confirming the same, Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said after 2011, the district would once again host important matches for which all arrangements will be made in time. Sunil Sharma, District Sports Officer (DSO), said the ground was being prepared to host the match for which necessary repairs and maintenance work in stadium had been started.

Lauding the efforts of Sharma in bringing World Kabaddi Cup matches back in Ferozepur, Ashwani Mehta, president, Beopar Mandal, said this border town had produced several sportsmen of international repute, hence such matches should be held every year here to encourage the local sportspersons.