23 NATIONS TO VIE FOR Rs 4.54 CRORE PRIZE MONEY OF 3RD WCKP-2012

Chandigarh November 27^th, 2012:Highlights of 3^rd World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab-2012 - -

• Afghanistan, Argentina, Canada, Denmark, England, Iran, Italy, Kenya, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, USA including India in Men Section and Canada, Denmark, England, Malaysia, Turkmenistan, USA and India in Women Section are in the fray for the fabulous prize money Pearls 3^rd World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab-2012 from December 1 to 15.  
• Venues: Bathinda, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Doda (Mukatsar), Sangrur, Roopnagar, Chohla Sahib (Tarntaran), Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Mansa, Jalandhar, Ludhiana 
• Winners Men Team get Rs. 2.00 crore; runners-up Rs 1.00 crore, third place holders Rs 51.00 lacs. First position holder Women Team gets 51.00 lac. Second and Third  get Rs 31.00 and 21.00 lac respectively. Teams from far away places like Argentina, Canada, USA etc. get Rs 15.00 lac or air fair.  All other teams get a Guarantee Money of Rs 10.00 lac.  
• The 3^rd WCKP-2012 will be a drug free mega international event. Anti-Doping Committee under NADA will conduct Dope tests during the tournament.  
• PTC will telecast live Pearls 3^rdWCKP-2012 matches, opening and closing ceremonies.  
• Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal is Chief Patron while Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal is Chairman, S. Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Hon’ble Member Parliament and Sh. Sikander Singh Maluka, Hon’ble Education Minister Punjab are Senior Vice Chairmen, S. Bikram Singh Majithia Hon’ble Revenue, Rehabilitation, Information and Public Relation Minister, Sh. Pawan Kumar Teenu, Hon’ble Chief Parliamentary Secretary and S. Pargat Singh are the Vice Chairmen and Sh. Shivdular Singh Dhillon, PCS, Director Sports is the Organising Secretary.

  The Punjab Government, Department of Sports after the successful conduct of two editions of the Kabaddi World Cup (Circle Style) has decided to organize 3^rd World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab-2012 from 1-15 December, 2012. This time 16 National teams in Men Section and 7 teams in the Women Section would be participating.

 Giving this information while addressing a crowded press conference here, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab informed that the prize money of this edition of tournament has almost doubled in the Women Section. However the prize money in the Men Section would remain the same as Rs. 2.00 crore to Winner Team. Second and Third position holder teams would take home a prize money of Rs. 1.00 crore and Rs 51.00 lac respectively. Now the Winner Team in Women Section will take home a prize money of Rs. 51.00 lac. instead of Rs 25.00 lac. Second position holder team would get a prize money of Rs 31.00 lac instead of Rs 15.00 lac and the Third position holder team would be given Rs 21.00 lac instead of Rs 10.00 lac. It has also been decided to give Tractors one each to Best Raider and Best Catcher of the Final Match for Men.

Sh. Bikram Singh Majithia, Sr. Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee said that the Punjab Government is very keen to promote sports in a big way and properly chanalize the youth power. In this direction, a new result-oriented Sports Policy has been implemented in the state. Under the able guidance of Hon’ble Chief Minister Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal, the State Government has provided state-of-the-art-sports infrastructure in the state at a cost of more than 150.00 crores. 4 new Hockey Stadiums at Bathinda, Mohali, Faridkot and Sports School, Ghudda (Bathinda) have been developed at a cost of Rs 75.00 crore. 3 Hockey Stadiums namely Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar have been renovated at a cost of Rs 25.00 crore. 7 New Multipurpose Stadiums namely Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar have been constructed at a cost of Rs 50.00 crore. A new Synthetic Athletic Track has been laid at Sports School Ghudda (Bathinda) The Guru Nanak Stadium Ludhiana has also been updated at a cost of Rs 3.00 crore. One International Sports Hostel at Burlton Park, Jalandhar has been developed at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.

Explaining that the rural masses are passionate about kabaddi and acknowledging the popularity of the game, Mr. Majithia said that the state Government has included this game in the Sports Gradation Policy, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award Policy and Cash Award Policy.

Mr. Majithia and Mr. Maluka further said that colourful Opening and Closing Ceremonies have been planned and this task of cultural programme has been entrusted to an acclaimed event management company named Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai.

Sh. P.S. Aujla, IAS, Secretary Sports and Executive Member Organizing Committee said that all efforts have been made to make this event drug free. An Anti Dope Committee has been formed which will be responsible to manage Pre and Post World Cup Kabaddi Anti Doping Affairs and submit a report to Organizing Committee on conclusion of the programme. He further informed that to facilitate the public, the matches of the event have been scattered to be conducted over 13 places through out the state. The semi-finals, finals, Opening and Closing Ceremonies and matches at Bathinda, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Patiala and Ludhiana would be conducted under flood lights and telecast live by PTC. The matches at other venues would also be telecast live by this channel. The Opening Ceremony of the event will be held at Bathinda on 1^st December, 2012 and S. Parkash Singh Badal, Hon’ble Chief Minister Punjab has very kindly consented to be the Chief Guest. On the Closing Ceremony and Men Final Miyan Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif Hon’ble Chief Minister, Punjab (Pakistan) would be the Chief Guest and give away prizes to the winners. The Semi Finals of the tournament will be held at Bathinda on 12^th November, 2012. The losers of Semi Finals would vie for third and fourth place and Women Finals will be held at Jalandhar on 13.12.2012.

He also disclosed that, to look after the comfort and convenience of all participating teams, the Punjab Sports Department has appointed 2 liaison officers with the each team. He further added that eminent punjabi folk singers, comedians and artists would regale the audience at all the venues of this grand event.

“We will set high standards in conducting the mega event. Efforts have been made to provide all comforts to the participating teams and officials accompanying” said Mr. Aujla.

Regarding the formation of Indian teams, a Selection Committee, under the Chairmanship of International Kabaddi player Sh. Shiv Dev Singh has been formed which has selected 51 Men and 31 Women probables for the coaching camps going on at Bathinda and Ludhiana, respectively. Prior to this, the Selection Committee conducted Selection Trails for Men on 25.09.2012 and Women at Ludhiana on 19.11.2012.