Four years back, Akshay Kumar started the Akshay Kumar International
Invitational Judo-Karate Championship with a motive to promote this art
in India. Today, it has become a grand tournament which sees athletes
from everywhere in the world assemble and vie for the grand prize money.
But this year it will be grander as reports suggest the expenses of the
tournament have escalated to Rs. 3 cr.
There are murmurs that Akshay is getting more involved with this
edition of the tournament. He has already kept aside some time for the
tournament which is getting bigger every year. A source explained that
this competition means a lot to Akshay. The actor is known for his slick
martial arts moves that he often displays in his movies. He had trained
himself in the art even before he hit the screens. Money, it seems,
isn’t a hurdle for the actor when it comes to this contest.
The source continued that another reason behind this sporting event is
Akshay’s intentions of bringing this form of sport into limelight too.
Hence, he wants to give people the chance to exhibit their talent and
get rewarded. In 2011, the total expenses had hit the 2 Crore mark and
this year, 3 Crore is the estimated figure for the play-offs. The
contest will run from November 7-10 and the prize money will be 25 lakh.
None of the athletes who come down to India to participate in the event
are charged for their stay here. Akshay Kumar foots the bill for their
accommodation, food and participation.
