Women take part in a Kabaddi match. Telegraph picture

Jajpur, June 13: Jajpur Kabaddi Association, affiliated to Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), is organising the four-day-long 56th national and state-level Kabaddi tournament. The men’s and women’s tournament will kick off at its own stadium at Khanditar from tomorrow.

A total of 26 teams, including 18 men’s and eight women’s, from across the country are participating in the tournament. The day and night competitions will be conducted on the stadium grounds from 8am to 9pm.

In the national-level event, veteran teams, such as Mumbai police, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Delhi Red, Maharashtra Police, Kolkata Police, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar will participate. Seventeen other teams, including 8 women from across the state, will participate in the state-level event.

“We feel proud of the fact that we would be organising such a sports event of national importance in a remote village such as Khanditar. We will ensure proper accommodation, sanitation and care of all the players and their associates who are coming from various states in India,” said Souribandhu Kar, president, Jajpur Kabaddi Association.

About 400 players from the state and outside, along with 70 coaches and members of various kabaddi associations, will attend the event.

As many as 30 officials have been deployed from the AKFI for smooth conduct of the matches. This apart, national observers from the AKFI will maintain strict vigil to ensure that the guidelines framed by the AKFI are maintained in the matches.

“Elaborate arrangements have been made for lodging, boarding and refreshment of the participating teams and their associates. We have mobilised hundreds of our volunteers to oversee safety and comfort of all the participating teams,” said Rabindra Kumar Sahu, secretary of JKA.

Authorities have also been requested to ensure uninterrupted supply of power and water to the places where the team members and other guests will stay, he said.

Emergency arrangement has also been put in place to meet any eventuality.

“The matches will be played in both day and night. Floodlights have been installed at the venue. As it is a national-level sports event, officials of AKFI will conduct the matches as per its rules,” said Nigamananda Mohanty, vice-president of JKA.

“All the matches will be conducted in four separate courts on the JKA’s grounds at Khanditar,” added Mohanty.