The final was a tightly fought contest between the teams from Christchurch and Auckland, with the former just edging forward with a score line of 40-37, and winning $2,000 prize money. The runner-up got $1,500.
The other two teams participating were aptly named Punjab and Haryana Kabaddi teams.
The wider community also participated in the event with the main pakeha team called Tugawar Teddies winning the tug-of-war, and a cash prize of $300.
There were jaggo and giddha dance performances as well, and about 10 food stalls, treating the gathering to traditional Indian and Asian foods.
Visibly happy at the event’s success, Narinder Singh Warraich, President of CPSCG, said, “With almost 800 people attending the day-long-event, we hope to make the Christchurch Kabaddi Cup an annual affair. Special thanks to our CPSCG members Arvinder, Amit and Dasham, who worked very hard for months to make this a success.”
Dasham Bedi added, “It was quite a challenge-driven but rewarding experience to organise the first-ever Christchurch Kabaddi Cup. While a few people did express their doubts that Kabaddi being an unknown sport here, might not get traction in the Garden City.
“More so, as the Indian population is so small here. But kudos to the organising committee members who stuck to their vision and gave an opportunity to the Indian and wider community – both local and ethnic – to watch this great Indian indigenous sport live in action. And how well the community responded! It was great to see such a multicultural crowd attending the event. It made all the hard work worthwhile.”