Kabaddi fever grips Tirupati

TIRUPATI: After bearing the brunt of the recent flash floods, the temple city is excited to begin the New Year afresh by watching the National Kabaddi Tournament for Men and Women’ scheduled to be held here from January 5 to 9.

Jointly organised by the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) and Tirupati Smart City Corporation Limited (TSCCL), the national tourney is touted as the country’s first-ever sporting event conducted by a civic body on a massive scale.

A total of 43 teams from 22 states consisting of 750 players of all levels, coaches and team managers will be participating in the five-day tournament. City legislator Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, municipal commissioner P.S. Girisha and Mayor Dr R. Sirisha have made special efforts to make the event a grand success.

The corporation has formed 12 committees with civic officials, corporators and physical trainers of various universities to oversee the arrangements. In view of the Covid pandemic, the organising committee have taken all precautions to strictly screen the sportspersons on their arrival. They have to submit a Covid test negative certificate ahead of the event.

“Apart from submission of double vaccination certificates, every participant has to undergo a rapid antigen test before they are lodged at TTD’s Srinivasam in Tirupati. An RT-PCR test will also be conducted and if anyone is tested positive, they will be quarantined and will not be allowed to take part in the tourney”, MCT commissioner and tourney organising secretary Girisha said.

Briefing about the arrangements being made, Girisha said all the teams will be given accommodation at TTD Srinivasam and Madhavam amenities complexes, where 140 rooms are readied. Similarly, all arrangements were made at the venue, Indira Maidanam, and nearly 4,000 people are expected to watch the matches daily.

“Two special medical teams will be deployed at the accommodation site and the Indira Maidanam as well. Urban police will be providing security for the players and at the grounds. As a prelude, we will organise a crackers show on Tuesday evening, followed by an inaugural event on Wednesday morning”, the commissioner added.