Tamil Nadu government sanctions Rs 1.75 crore towards Kabaddi, Squash events

CHENNAI: In a move to promote sports events in the state, Tamil Nadu government today sanctioned Rs 1.75 crore towards conducting two world level events in Chennai.

Ahead of the World Cup Kabaddi matches scheduled to take place here next month, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has allocated Rs One crore towards conducting the event in the state capital.

Men and women players from 20 countries -- India, Mexico, USA, England, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Nepal, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, Australia, Canada, Italy and West Indies would participate in the event in the fourth week of February, an official release said.

The government also allocated Rs 75 lakh towards conducting the 8th World University Squash Championships to be conducted in the state-of-the-art squash indoor stadium at Chennai in December this year, first ever such event to be held in Asia.

Players from 19 countries -- India, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Hong Kong, China, South Africa, the Netherlands, USA, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Egypt, Singapore, Austria, Nigeria, Spain and New Zealand would participate in the world squash event.

The government has also sanctioned Rs 4 crore towards setting modern gymnasium and equipment in 17 sites in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, Madurai, Tiruvannamalai, Kanyakumari, Virudhunagar, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Theni, Dindugal, Tuticorin, Pudukkottai, Salem, Sivaganga, Tiruchirapalli, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli and the Nilgris.