VISAKHAPATNAM: Cockfights began at several places in parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, marking Sankranti celebrations, on Saturday.
Unlike previous years, punters this time are betting huge sums of money running into lakhs in the high-stakes cockfights in north Andhra region. Organisers of the traditional sport said a few punters from Godavari region are betting high on cockfights in the region. The payments are done through digital wallets to avoid the risk of being traced.
The stakes were low (50,000 to 1 lakh) on each match in north Andhra region in the past. Now, the stakes have increased from 5 lakh to 10 lakh and sometimes, more. Unlike previous years, the punters have been bringing different breeds including the Peruvian fighting roosters for the cockfights, said MS Rao (name changed), one of the participants in the cockfights. There is more involvement of locals than political leaders in the bloody sport in our region, he added.
Last year, I had placed bet on Kaaki Dega breed roosters for 50,000 in one fight, and on Nemali for 40,000 in another fight and I got 90,000 as both the varieties of the roosters won the battles. This year, I have decided to place a bet on Peruvian rooster for 1 lakh to try my luck as the new breed of rooster jumps well, attacks their opponents very strategically and strongly, and never backs off, said G Prabhakar, a resident of Vizag city. On Saturday (January 13) alone, more than 30 high-stakes cockfights took place at the mango orchards in Vizag city and Vizianagaram district. We are expecting the cockfights to begin at 10 am and continue till 4 pm from Sunday to Wednesday, said youngsters who breed and sell fighting roosters.
Unlike previous years, punters this time are betting huge sums of money running into lakhs in the high-stakes cockfights in north Andhra region. Organisers of the traditional sport said a few punters from Godavari region are betting high on cockfights in the region. The payments are done through digital wallets to avoid the risk of being traced.
The stakes were low (50,000 to 1 lakh) on each match in north Andhra region in the past. Now, the stakes have increased from 5 lakh to 10 lakh and sometimes, more. Unlike previous years, the punters have been bringing different breeds including the Peruvian fighting roosters for the cockfights, said MS Rao (name changed), one of the participants in the cockfights. There is more involvement of locals than political leaders in the bloody sport in our region, he added.
Last year, I had placed bet on Kaaki Dega breed roosters for 50,000 in one fight, and on Nemali for 40,000 in another fight and I got 90,000 as both the varieties of the roosters won the battles. This year, I have decided to place a bet on Peruvian rooster for 1 lakh to try my luck as the new breed of rooster jumps well, attacks their opponents very strategically and strongly, and never backs off, said G Prabhakar, a resident of Vizag city. On Saturday (January 13) alone, more than 30 high-stakes cockfights took place at the mango orchards in Vizag city and Vizianagaram district. We are expecting the cockfights to begin at 10 am and continue till 4 pm from Sunday to Wednesday, said youngsters who breed and sell fighting roosters.
