In a first, Nagaland Aainball Association (NABA) organised a two-day Aainball coaching training programme at State Environment & Forestry Training Institute at Signal Angami colony Dimapur on April 8 and 9.
A total number of 38 participants were trained, out of which 14 were trained for coach and 24 were for players. The trainees were trained by master trainers from Assam namely Dipankar Kalita and Pragyan Sarma.
The closing programme was graced by leader of NPF legislature party Kuzholuzo Azo Neinu, MLA who is also the president of NABA as the guest of honour. In his speech, Azo informed that Ainball game was popular among the uniform service personnel and also spoke on the importance of the game. Pointing out that the training as first of its kind in the state, Azo suggested on promoting the sport in schools and colleges and also to come up with more training programmes in future.
ADGP (Law & Order) and chief advisor NABA Sandeep M. Tamgadge congratulated the players and encouraged them to actively involve in learning the skills and techniques of the game. He also highlighted about how other states police, even the Navy and Indian Army have already introduced the game as part of their training curriculum.
Intanki National Park (INP) director and NABA advisor T Aochuba while citing the game involvement on “colors, coordination and concentration” encouraged the players and coaches to be focussed. He said that their active participation will also encourage other sportspersons to participate in the game.
Master trainer Dipankar Kalita said that Aainball is an international game physically on a playground which is based on colors, concentration and coordination which was originated in Morocco, located in North Africa designed by Mohamed Hamane, who conducted an in-depth study on colors and their impact on the brain, introducing the game in the year 2006.
Kalita mentioned that the sport involves significant running as well as the use of hands and feet for shooting and scoring. The objective of the game is to stimulate through colors and engage all parts of the body with various sets of skills, he said. The Yoti foundation has taken the initiative to promote Aainball in India and established Aainball Federation of India.
Kalita highlighted that India had already hosted four National championships twice out of the four occasions, Pragyan Sarma holds record as the most successful captain among the Indian states. He also pointed out that Aainball is actively played in the state of Assam and Arunachal but the rest of the state was yet to adopt and he suggested the need to focus and work together as a team and promote the game in the whole of North East.
He also informed that the association will plan together and organize North East Championship which has never been held in the history of Aainball and for which they will seek permission and host the National Championship in Nagaland, that will be the first to host National Championship in North East India.
About the game, the Aainball sports is played on a pitch of ground measuring 40*20 meter with 8 players and 3 referees. The field is equipped with 8 baskets, 8 balls and 16 flags of two color each (Red, Blue, Yellow and Green). It involves the head, feet and hands and the duration of the match is about 80 minutes.