Tut brothers to sponsor kabaddi league in city

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 7

After the World Kabaddi League, started by former Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, Sukhbir Badal, got discontinued, the event is set to be launched under the banner of ‘Global Kabaddi League’ from October 14 and will culminate on November 3.

Though Jalandhar’s popular NRI Tut brothers primarily sponsor the event, the state government will provide support for the same under ‘Tandarust Punjab Mission’. The league will be held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Jalandhar, hockey stadium, PAU, Ludhiana and hockey stadium, Mohali, respectively.

Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, Sports Minister, Punjab had announced that the league would be started this year. Ranbir Tut, an NRI, said the government had ensured to provide infrastructure and medical help. He said, “They are four brothers who will sponsor the tournament and an amount of Rs 8 to10 crore will be spent on the event.”

“Bathinda, being the constituency of Harsimrat Badal, used to be the prime venue of the event, but this time the matches will be held for a week in Jalandhar and Ludhiana and the final match will be held in Mohali,” he added.

Tut said as many as six teams would participate in the league of which two were from Vancouver, and others were from Toronto, California, and the UK. “We are still in the process of selecting the players which will be decided till September 15,” he added.

The Kabaddi World League was started by former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal in 2014 but was discontinued owing to controversies related to prize distribution.

Surjit Hockey Tournament will start from October 25 to 31 at Surjit Hockey Stadium here.