The Badals showcase event, this year’s edition of Kabaddi World Cup, came to an end but neither Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal nor his son and deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal left any impression on the 23,000 strong capacity crowd at th Guru Nanak Dev Stadium here.
While the senior Badal merely congratulated the public and his son for making the event a huge success, Sukhbir stuck to last year’s speech and told the people to “make kabaddi the number one sport not only in Punjab but at the international level”. The stadium, which wore a deserted look while the play offs for the third place were on, soon filled to capacity before the final and the arrival of the Badals. Sources said at least 200 buses were pressed into service by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) to bring people from the villages.
Besides the Badals, senior Akali leaders Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Sikander Singh Maluka, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Bikramjit Singh Majithia and former prime minister of Pakistan Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and other foreign diginitaries were present for the closing function that was held under the cloud of doping. The Desi Boyz star cast comprising Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone and Chitranganda Singh enthralled the audience too.