Punjab invites Pakistan to participate in World Kabaddi cup

'We will soon approach the Centre to know whether Pakistan players will be granted visas or not.'

Amid growing tension between India and Pakistan following Uri terror attack, Punjab has invited Pakistan along with other countries to participate in the 6th World Kabaddi Cup starting from November.

However, Punjab Kabaddi Association which is organizing the event is not hopeful of granting visas to Pakistan players by the Centre in the wake of recent terror attack.

"We have invited Pakistan to participate in 6th World Kabaddi Cup. But the invitation was given to the neighbouring country two and half months back," Punjab Kabaddi Association, President Sikandar Singh Maluka said on Tuesday.

"Given the current situation prevailing in the country post Uri terror attack, I do not think the players of Pakistan will be granted visas by the government of India," said Maluka who is also a minister in SAD-BJP led government in the state.

"We will soon approach the Centre to know whether Pakistan players will be granted visas or not," said Maluka.

If Pakistan players were denied visas this time, then it will be for the first time that they will not play World Kabaddi Cup in Punjab.

Tension has grown between India and Pakistan following the Uri terror attack which left 18 army men dead.

Punjab is going to hold 6th World Kabaddi Cup for men and women to be held from November 3 to 17 in the state.

Teams from several countries including Canada, USA, Australia, Tanzania, England, Iran, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, Spain, Argentina are expected to participate in the 6th World Kabaddi Cup.

In 2015, World Kabaddi Cup was cancelled in Punjab because of several sacrilege incidents that caused tension in the state.