India are kabaddi world champs

Ludhiana, November 20
Defending champions India kept their record intact defeating Canada 58-25 and won the title in the men’s section of the Kabaddi World Cup at Guru Nanak Stadium here this evening.

The champions were leading by a convincing margin of 28-13 at the breather. Canada men who had secured third position last year, gave an excellent performance today but failed to rattle their experienced opponents.

Women kabaddi players of India and England in action in the final in Ludhiana on Sunday.

India immediately gained the lead and gave no room to the visitors to settle down who had to struggle for each point.

India’s raiders, Sandeep Dibra and and Gagandeep Singh Kheerawali played their hearts out and earned valuable points while stopper Mangat Singh Mangi too was in the thick of action and added points to steer his team to an easy victory.

Meanwhile, the depleted Indian eves trounced England 44- 17 in a one-sided encounter to lay their hands on the winners’ trophy.

The players despite being injured a couple days ago in a road accident near Bathinda, gave their best to overcome their spirited opponents to lift the trophy. The winner had established a comfortable lead 18 points (24-6) at the half- time.

The visitors tried their best to stop the Indian juggernaut, but failed to stage a comeback and surrendered.

Earlier, last year’s losing finalists, Pakistan scripted a facile 60-22 win over Italy to secure third position in the men’s section. Nearly 25,000 spectators thronged the stadium to witness the sports extravaganza and to catch a glimpse of their favourite Bollywood stars.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Akshay Kumar took a round of the stadium on an open Mercedes Car. However, the round did not go down well with the athletes , who complained that the car ferry inside the stadium caused damage to the ground and costly Astroturf.

The match for the hard line cup, played between favourites and last years’ runners up, Pakistan and Italy turned out to be a mismatch as the former romped home victorious without being challenged (60-22).

The winners had established an unassessable lead of 24 points (34-10) at half time and went on to further cement it to wrap up the issue easily.

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone and Chitragnda Singh, RD Band from Canada, Punjabi singers Harbhajan Mann and Satinder Satti entertained the spectators.

Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal along with his deputy, Sukhbir Badal and Pakistan’s former premier, Ch Shuajat Hussain, Ruby Dhalla, former member, Parliament, Canada were among other dignitaries were present there at the stadium.

Soon after the visit of the Bollywood, the public started leaving the venue. Even before the both the finals of men and women section the organisers conducted fire works drawing the Kabaddi cup to an abrupt end.

The kabaddi players of India and Canada were left high and dry at this development. Panic stricken organisers told the persons conducting fireworks to stop the fire work till the time finals are completed.

Acknowledging the stupendous performance by the Indian eves, deputy chief minister, Sukhbir Badal announced assured jobs in any department of the state.

Canadian players disappointed 

Ludhiana, November 20
The Canadian Kabaddi team had to face the brunt of private security personnel as well as cops when they tried to get themselves clicked with Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar after the actor’s performance on the concluding day of Kabaddi World Cup, here today.
Ironically, when this incident took place, families of politicians, senior government officials and other VVIPs were getting themselves with the actor.
One of the player’s of Canadian team rued that it is because of them that the actor was here. “It is because of Kabaddi World Cup finals that Akshay Kumar and other actors are here. Moreover, we just wanted to get ourselves clicked with him because everyone was posing with the actor.
“Even family of a senior sports department official was present there. Its really sad that we were pushed back, while families of politicians were given VIP treatment,” rued a team member.