Indo-Pak kabaddi series in Punjab from Nov 5

Chandigarh, Oct 30 (UNI) Five Indo-Pak kabaddi matchesn will be held at different venues in Punjab from November 5 to 14.

Punjab's, Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Services, R P S Pawar ssid here today that the series was being organised to commemorate the tercentenary celebrations of Guruta Gaddi. The Punjab Government is hosting these matches.

Mr Pawar said that a 24-member Pakistan team, including eight officials, have already arrived and at present are in Nanded, Maharashtra where kabaddi matches will be held between the teams of Pakistan and different Indian states as part of the Guruta Gaddi celebrations.

The first match in Punjab will be played at Mansoorpur (Mukerian) on November 5. Besides the test matches, an exhibition match will also be played at Nakodar on November 13.

The Pakistan kabaddi team is in India on an invitation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Mr K J S Cheema, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister said that the the final match of the series would be played at the Sports Stadium in Bathinda on November 14. Member of Parliament and President Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president Sukhbir Badal will be the chief guest at Bathinda and would distribute a cash prize of Rs four lakh to the five match series winners while the runners up team will receive Rs three lakh.

The Punjab Government will treat the Pakistan players and officials accompanying them as state guests during their stay in Punjab.

Punjab Sports Director Pargat Singh said that the Indian and Pakistan teams would return to Punjab on November 3 after playing at Nanded.

The complete fixtures are: Nov 5: First Test at Mansoorpur (Mukerian). Nov 9: Second Test at Gopalpura (Majitha). Nov 10: Third Test at Ludhiana. Nov 12: Fourth Test at Muktsar. Nov 13: Exhibition match at Nakodar. Nov 14: Fifth Test at Bathinda.

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