Priyanka captivates Bathinda as kabaddi cup off to colourful start

Sunday, 01/12/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131201/punjab.htm#1

Bhatinda : All roads today led to the multi-purpose stadium where a galaxy of stars, especially Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, had everyone mesmerised with their performances.

And the audience too did not disappoint as her every gesture was feted with thunderous applaud by a record gathering, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, on the occasion of the inauguration of the fourth World Cup Kabaddi Tournament here this evening.

That it was a mage event was evident from the loud cheers, high-octane music, LED lights, a laser show and confetti showers and to top it all a deafening fireworks to complete the elaborate ceremony. All this, though, was followed by traffic snarls.

But the day definitely belonged to Priyanka. Calling herself ‘Punjab ki beti”, she thanked the Badal family for bringing her to the land where she was born. “I am feeling honoured to be here today among such a loving crowd. I love kabaddi and I could have also played the sport which Punjab is taking to international level. I have brought a gift for the people of Punjab and I hope you will like it.”

Although every person sitting in the audience knew what the gift was, when she did deliver it, the crowd couldn’t help but erupt with joy. Quickly changing into a ready-to-wear green saree, she entered the stadium standing in a tractor-trailer.

Jiving to the music of some of the songs of her blockbuster films, she took a round of the stadium and waved at the hysterical crowd. The ‘Punjab ki beti’ turned into a ‘Desi Girl’ as she matched her steps to the lyrics to the song from the film ‘Dostana’.

Her performance to ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ from ‘Krrish 3’ sounded like just the apt song as it ended with ‘Aaj ki party aapke naam’. The much-awaited 12-minute performance ended with dancing to the beats of ‘Jai Ganesha Deva’ from the film ‘Agneepath’.

Thanking the Canadian kabaddi team for performing with her, the crowd for its support and the Badal family, she left the stage and the stadium, not waiting for the show of fireworks.

Earlier, the organisers did not forget to eulogise the senior Badal by presenting a folk performance in his honour.

The staple at all the opening and closing ceremonies, Satinder Satti, must have given her stylists a tough time as she changed her dress several times.

Singers Gippy Grewal and Sherry Mann had the audience put their hands up in the air and clap and sing along with them as they lip-synced some of their popular numbers. Mann sang ‘Yaar Anmulle’, ‘Yenken’, ‘Chandigarh Waliye’ and others chartbusters from his album ‘Aate Di Chiri’.

Gippy added a personal touch to his performance as he came down from the stage and took a round of the ground while he sang and danced. “Kitthe Ae”, “Hello-Hello’, “Main Pind Nanke Rehnda Si”, “Angrezi Beat Te” and others.

Annual razzmatazz

Want kabaddi in Olympics: Badal

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said it was his dream that kabaddi should be included in the Olympics and hoped that the day was not far away when this dream would become a reality. He said there was a time when this game was played only in India and that too particularly in Punjab. However, it was a matter of pride for them that the game was now equally popular in nations across the globe and a pointer was the presence of a number of foreign teams in the tournament.

Dy CM: Duty-bound to promote game

Sukhbir said it was the duty of the state government to popularise this rural game in every nook and corner of the state. Its popularity had spread across the globe and was evident in the participation of teams from New Zealand, Kenya and Mexico, he said.

Why splurge on kabaddi: Warring

Congress MLA from Gidderbaha Amarinder Singh 'Raja Warring' has criticised the state government for paying a huge sum of money to Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra for her performance during the opening of the fourth World Kabaddi Cup at Bathinda. Warring said the government was spending lavishly on the opening ceremony even as waterlogging victims of Muktsar were paid a paltry compensation.

Punjabi Priyanka

Although claiming to be a daughter of Punjab, Priyanka Chopra chose to address the crowd in Hindi and the only Punjabi she spoke was to greet the people with Sat Sri Akal. But the audience did not seem to mind this and cheered her every word.

Harsimrat missing

A notable absence from the gala function was local MP Harsimrat Badal. She had been a regular fixture at all the previous cups with here children. Sources said she was in Delhi as one of her children was unwell. Ditto for her brother, Bikramjit Singh Majithia.

Function starts late

The function that began over two hours late went on with clock work precision but for the jarring sound system.

Ministers skip event

A major part of the Cabinet too was conspicuous in the audience. Reason: the Delhi elections.