Kabaddi World Cup 2012: All you need to know

MUSCAT, OMAN – DECEMBER 16: The Indian Kabaddi players celebrates Gold during the Beach Kabaddi Final beyween India and Pakistan at North Al Hail during day nine of the 2nd Asian Beach Games Muscat 2010 on December 16, 2010 in Muscat, Oman.

The Kabaddi World Cup 2012 will take place in Punjab from 1-15 December. This Kabaddi World Cup is played in the circus style of the sport.Here’s all that you need to know about this contest:

Organizer:Government of Punjab

TEAMS-

Men’s category:AfghanistanArgentinaCanadaDenmarkEnglandIndiaIranItalyKenyaNew ZealandNorwayPakistanScotlandSierra LeoneSri LankaUSA

Women’s category:CanadaDenmarkEnglandIndiaTurkmenistanUSA

VENUES:

All matches will be held in Punjab at the following locations:

PatialaHoshiarpurAmritsarSangrurRoop NagarDodaChohla SahibFazilkaGurdaspurMansaBathindaJalandharLudhiana

Prize money-

Women:1st- Rs 51 lac (previously 25 lac)2nd- Rs 31 lac (previously 15 lac)3rd- Rs 21 lac (previously 10 lac)

Men:1st- Rs 2 crore (previously 1 crore)2nd- Rs 1 crore3rd- Rs 51 lac

Dope:

The previous edition of the Kabaddi World Cup was marred by athletes doping all around. This time Rs 40 lac has been set aside for doping testing facilities. Following are the number of players from these countries who were tested positive:

Australia- 7USA- 3Canada- 5UK- 3Norway- 2Italy- 1Argentina- 1Spain- 1Germany- 1India- 1

Winner:

India.

Now here’s what you really need to know. This is being organized in our backyard. We have home court advantage. We are organizing it. India needs to win this contest. The sport has had its share of controversies, with the Indian team walking out in the finals vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup, to USA alleging a match fixing to set up a India-Pakistan final, to Pakistan alleging doping by the USA, etc. The list goes on. This time more stringent measures are being undertaken to ensure fair play.

Another quieter aspect of this competition to be proud of is that it hasn’t drawn the same ire which the upcoming India Pakistan cricket series has. That’s a good sign that sports can still be kept separate from political tensions. On the other hand its more probable that the sport is just flying under the radar as its not popular enough to elicit a hue and cry over India Pakistan matches.

At the Asia Cup where Pakistan won, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had said:

“Whosoever wins in India-Pakistan (East Punjab-West Punjab) games, it is Punjab that wins.”

This is a sport which owes its origin to India. The Punjab government is organizing the World Cup. India has won every World Cup series of this sport. The extravaganza will take place on Indian soil.

Regardless of who wins this World Cup, it is India who wins.