Kila Raipur games begin on Thursday, but no bullock-cart race
For the second year in a row, there will be no bullock-cart race at the Kila Raipur sports festival, better known as the ‘Rural Olympics’, whose 80th edition would start at the Grewal Sports Stadium here in Ludhiana district on Thursday.
For the second year in a row, there will be no bullock-cart race at the Kila Raipur sports festival, better known as the ‘Rural Olympics’, whose 80th edition would start at the Grewal Sports Stadium here in Ludhiana district on Thursday.
Last month, the Supreme Court had stayed a central government notification that allowed bull races.
Deputy commissioner Ravi Bhagat said, “We will abide by the apex court’s decision.”
Organisers of the four-day festival said competitions would be held in cycling, horse race, tractor race, dog race, athletics, hockey, kabaddi, tug-of-war and gymnastics, among others.
Paramjit Singh Grewal, general secretary of the Grewal Sports Association, which organises the games, said, “We are expecting a large number of visitors from the country as well as abroad.”
Claiming that bulls and other animals were not subjected to cruelty during the games, members of the association appealed to animal welfare organisations to visit the village for clearing their ‘misconceptions’.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, association secretary Balwinder Singh Jagga Grewal said, “Chief parliamentary secretary Chaudhary Nand Lal will formally inaugurate the games on Friday, while Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh will visit the stadium on Saturday.”