Patliputra Sports Complex at Kankerbagh in Patna that will host the 1st Women’s World Cup Kabaddi and (above) Asian Games 2010 gold medallist Smita Kumari, who will miss the tournament. Pictures by Ashok Sinha and Deepak Kumar

Patna, Feb. 29: The 1st Women’s World Cup Kabaddi has stirred up a contro- versy even before the games have begun.

Smita Kumari, the Mokama girl who was part of the gold medal-winning Indian squad at the 2010 Beijing Asian Games, claimed that she did not get a call from Bihar State Kabaddi Federation for participating in the tournament.

Smita, who was felicitated by chief minister Nitish Kumar and was given a cheque of Rs 11 lakh after India won gold at the 2010 Asian Games, told The Telegraph that she did not receive any letter asking her to participate at the second trial camp. She added that she does not even have a clue where the second trial is going on.

Smita claimed that she received the letter for participation in the first camp in Bhopal in October last year but Bihar State Kabaddi Federation did not send any letter for participation in the second camp.

Smita said: “It is sad that I am not playing in the tournament being held in Patna despite hailing from Bihar.”

However, Bihar State Kabaddi Federation secretary Kumar Vijay Singh said: “Two players from the Bihar team — Minu and Smita Kumari — were selected for the Indian kabaddi team’s trial camp. The doctors advised Minu to take a three-month rest and Smita opted out citing personal reasons.”

Vijay said about one-and-a-half months back, the Bihar State Kabaddi Federation received a letter from Amateur Kabaddi Federation asking Smita to take part in the second trial camp for selections to the Indian team.

Vijay added: “I had forwarded the letter to East Central Railway (ECR) so that Smita could participate in the trials. Smita was even given a holiday by ECR to take part at the camp but she did not turn up.” Smita, at present, works with ECR.

Meanwhile, International Kabaddi Federation president Janardhan Singh Gehlot was pleased with the preparations for the tournament starting tomorrow.

Gehlot said: “At present, 31 countries play kabaddi. When the number of countries playing the game goes up to 50, kabaddi will get an entry into the Olympics. If this happens, it will be a major achievement for India.”

In the meantime, decks have been cleared for holding the mega event. The tournament is being organised by the state government as part of the Bihar centenary year celebrations.

Sixteen teams from the US, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Iran, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Turkmenistan and India are taking part. Chief minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the tournament at the newly built Patliputra Sports Complex in Kankerbagh at 3pm tomorrow.

The tournament, being organised by the education department, International Kabaddi Federation and Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India will continue till March 4.

Patna senior superintendent of police Alok Kumar today said around 1,000 police personnel would be deployed at the venue for security of the players.

“The superintendent of police (rural) is in charge of the security. Each of the buses carrying the players will have a lady police constable, who will be provided with a wireless set. The police are trying to install CCTV cameras near the entry and exits of the venue,” the officer said.