Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday approved revised dates of the fifth edition of Kabaddi World Cup on the proposal of the sport organisations from various countries.As per the new dates, this mega event of Punjab’s traditional game will now commence from December 5 to 15.

This decision was taken in a meeting with the representatives of various Kabaddi organisations, which apprised Badal about clashing of dates due to grand finale of Wave World Kabaddi league on November 29.In view of the clashing of dates, Badal asked Secretary Sports PS Aujla to prepare a revised schedule.

He also directed that there will be no change in the venue of both men and women semi-finals, which would be held in Pakistan whether in lahore or anywhere as per the convenience of Government of Punjab Province, Pakistan.Badal, who is also Sports Minister, informed that there would be 10 teams participating in World Kabaddi Cup —India, Pakistan, Argentina, USA, UK, Scotland, Canada, Sierra leone, Spain, Kenya and Denmark in the men’s category discipline while women’s teams from India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Kenya, UK, Malaysia, Denmark and Mexico would participate.

He said that these Kabaddi titans would vie for Rs6.97 crore prize money out of which champion in either category would be awarded Rs2 crore and Rs1 crore respectively and Rs1 crore and Rs51 lakh for the runners-up.The opening and closing venues remain the same with opening at Jalandhar and the conclusion at Bathinda.Jalalabad, Chohla Sahib, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Ropar, Khanna and Mansa cities have been selected for other Kabbadi matches.

The Deputy Chief Minister has also issued strict instructions to conduct dope tests of players to ensure drug free World Cup and also approved the amount of Rs30 lakh for the same.