Selection for Kabaddi Premier League slated for April-May
Bangalore: In an effort to popularize the rural sport of kabaddi, the New Kabaddi Federation is organizing the final selection trials for the upcoming Indo International Premier Kabaddi League to be held in April-May. The Bengaluru leg of the selection trials will be held from February 13-15.
The trials to be held at Vidyanagar Sports School near Chikkajala, A total of 200 players will be selected over three days. Announcing the dates for the selection trials, Chief Secretary of the New Kabaddi Federation MV Prasad Babu said that the selection trials are being held across the country while Bengaluru will play host to the Southern India leg.
Speaking to reporters, Prasad said that more than 4600 players had registered for the first stage of the selection trials, out of which, over 400 players had qualified for the final selection trials. “A total of 150 players will eventually be selected for the big league where the players will be classified into three categories. The players under ‘A’ category will get richer by Rs 10 lakh while the ‘B’ and ‘C’ category players stand to gain Rs 8 lakh and Rs 6 lakh respectively. These players will then take part in the Indo International Premier Kabaddi League to be held in the last week of April or the first week of May,” said Prasad.
Elaborating on the league Prasad said that apart from the 150 players, an additional 50 ‘emerging’ players will be selected who will be the stand byes and will be replaced as and when required. A sum of Rs 2-4 lakh will be handed over to the deserving players who show enough potential.
The selection process for the kabaddi league is being held in five stages across the country. Salem in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh while the Northeastern States selection trials are being held in West Bengal. The other states include Bihar and Chhattisgarh,Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
As many as 27 players from Northern India, 114 from Himachal and 55 players from central states were selected at Pimpri in Maharashtra. In addition, 22 players from Railways, ITBP, CRPF along have been selected from different zones.
“A total of 30 international players will be seen in action during the league. Every team will have three international players in their side and will be paid Rs 10 lakh each. There would also be women’s matches played before and after every match during the league. A total of 8 teams have been selected who will display their skills during the league. After gauging the success, a full-fledged women’s league along the lines of the men’s league will be held,” informed Prasad.
“Our main goal is to get Kabaddi included in the Olympics. As many as 16 Arjuna Awardees along with 36 international players have joined hands to support the New kabaddi Federation,” said Prasad. Our players have already taken part in 9 international events. We have the support of players from Iran, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mauritius, Kenya and Zimbabwe Federation for the training,” he said.
An Indian team will be selected by the New Kabaddi Federation to take part in the Kabaddi World Championship to be held in Malacca in Malaysia from April 1, where 37 teams in the men’scategory and 29 teams in the women’s category will vying for honours. A sum of Rs 1 lakh per player per match will be given as an incentive.
“As much as 20% of the profits accruing from the Kabaddi Premier League will be distributed amongst the players while 10% will be given towards the welfare of the retired players with another 20% being allotted towards the development of the sport in various states.
An Olympic league will follow the World CupKabaddi League. The event has already got the nod from 42 countries. Overall, we are scaling up globally,” said a confident Prasad.
