Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Kabaddi Championship Opens Amid Row Over Civic Funding
A large kabaddi tournament has started in Virar.
It is called the 53rd State-Level Kabaddi Championship.
Nearly 800 players from 25 districts are taking part.
The event lasts four days, from October 8 to 11.
Players compete on mats set up across six courts.
The city is reported to have provided ₹59 lakh for the tournament.
Some opposition politicians are upset about how the event was organized and who was invited to its opening.
They say invitations arrived at their offices after the event had already begun.
The 53rd State-Level Kabaddi Championship opened Thursday at MHADA ground in Bolinj, Virar West.
The four-day tournament runs from October 8 to 11 and features nearly 800 players in 50 teams from 25 Maharashtra districts.
Six prepared courts are hosting matches on mats, with 30 matches played on opening day.
The event has been allocated ₹59 lakh in municipal funds, according to the report.
Opposition leader Manoj Patil and BJP MLA Rajan Naik objected to the invitation arrangements, saying cards reached BJP offices at 5:10 PM, after the 5:00 PM start.
- Who
- Nearly 800 players in 50 teams from 25 Maharashtra districts are competing; local officials and sports personalities attended the opening.
- What
- The 53rd State-Level Kabaddi Championship opened alongside a dispute over municipal funding and invitations.
- When
- October 8 to 11; the report says the event began Thursday.
- Where
- MHADA ground in Bolinj, Virar West, Vasai-Virar, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The reported political dispute concerns ₹59 lakh in municipal funding and allegations that invitation cards were delivered to BJP offices after the event began.
- Tournament
- 53rd State-Level Kabaddi Championship
- Dates
- October 8–11; year not specified
- Venue
- MHADA ground, Bolinj, Virar West
- Participants
- Nearly 800 players across 50 teams representing 25 Maharashtra districts
- Opening-day matches
- 30
- Courts
- Six specially prepared courts, with matches played on mats
- Reported municipal funding
- ₹59 lakh
- Invitation timing alleged by critics
- Cards reached BJP offices at 5:10 PM, after the 5:00 PM start