Women’s kabaddi teams from five countries, including Canada will be seen in action during exhibition matches at the men’s World Cup, which will be held in October-November, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said.
Badal said that the prize money has been increased from about C$100,000 to C$200,000 for the winning team. The runners-up will take home about C$100,000 while the team finishing third will get about C$50,000.
India, the US, Britain, Iran and Canada will field their women’s team, Badal said.
All matches will be staged in 12 floodlit stadiums across Punjab, mostly in rural areas, and will be telecast live on regional television channels. The opening ceremony with be at the Bathinda stadium while the finals will be played at Ludhiana.
Badal said that dope tests would be conducted on all players.
Reviewing the arrangements for the Cup at a meeting with senior sports department and other sporting association officials, Badal said that there was a need to encourage women’s kabaddi teams.
The winner in the women’s section will bag about C$50,000 while all participating teams will get about C$20,000.
Badal said it was the first time that any women’s kabaddi international tournament was offering such big prize money.
Pakistan, Iran, Canada, USA, Britain, Italy, Australia, Spain, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Norway, Taiwan, Argentina and the Irish Army have confirmed their participation in the men’s event.
A physical game originating in India/Pakistan, Kabbadi  is played between two teams, where player of one side tries to tag the player(s) of opposite team, while saying Kabaddi Kabaddi or Kaudi Kaudi and keeping his/her breath alive and then gets back to his/her own side once he/she tags. While the defending team which is being tagged will try to take down the player who is saying Kabaddi Kabaddi until his breath runs out.