City-dwellers rue ‘garrisoning’ of city for Kabaddi World Cup

For the finals India (champions in 2010) took on Canada in the male category while the runners up Pakistan clashed with Italy. In the women’s section an injured Indian team will clash with England while the match for the third place will be between USA and Turkmenistan.

Meanwhile with most of the roads leading to the Guru Nanak Stadium closed for the common man,reaching the railway station which is situated right next to the stadium became a tedious task. Policemen could be scene involved in heated arguments with the public at cross-roads. The police found it tough convincing the locals that the roads were closed. It was equally upsetting for locals to digest the fact that the city,which is witnessing a heavy wedding season,had been turned into a garrison,just for a kabbadi cup.

Sunita Goyal,a resident of Civil Lines complained,“With elections just round the corner,such an act could really upset the voter. They are paying very little attention to the inconvenience caused to us. Sunday is a holiday and forcing us to stay indoor just for a game is very rude.”

But while city-dwellers fretted,it was party time for people who came in hoards from nearby villages. “We have come here to enjoy kabaddi,” said Kulwinder Singh. His friend,Tejinder added,“We came early and roamed about in the city and now we are here in the stadium. The arrangements look great and it seems there is a lot of fun in store for us.”