67th KVSA Meet concludes; T Khel lift overall champions

The 67th Kohima Village Sports Association (KVSA) Meet 2026 concluded on Friday after six days of competitive sporting action across multiple disciplines, marking one of the most successful editions of the meet in recent years.
The 2026 edition witnessed a total of 31 new meet records, reflecting the steady progress and growing competitiveness of the annual sporting event.
T Khel emerged as the overall champions of the meet, securing a total of 50 medals comprising 22 gold, 22 silver, and 6 bronze. P Khel finished in second position with 30 medals, including 14 gold, 9 silver, and 7 bronze, while D Khel secured third place with 25 medals—9 gold, 7 silver, and 9 bronze. L Khel finished fourth with a total of 29 medals, winning 8 gold, 16 silver, and 5 bronze.
Altogether, 134 medals were contested during the meet, including 53 gold, 54 silver, and 27 bronze.
In discipline-wise results, L Khel emerged as champion in Games, while T Khel topped the athletics category. In wrestling, D Khel claimed the top position, with P Khel finishing second in the category.
Neiketoulie Belho of T Khel delivered an outstanding performance to win the men’s Best Athlete title, securing four gold medals in the 100 metres, 200 metres, long jump, and triple jump, along with a silver medal in the high jump. In the women’s category, Rüduolhounuo Belho, also of T Khel, was adjudged Best Athlete after winning gold medals in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres, and a silver medal in the triple jump.
In wrestling, Kezhaseluo-o Pienyü of D Khel emerged as the champion. Menuosetuo Yiese, Shürhongu Kire, and Khriekethozo Keretsü, all representing D Khel, secured the second, third, and fourth positions respectively.
P Khel emerged as the overall winner in both the men’s and women’s cross country events, with T Khel finishing second in both categories.
In the men’s cross country race, Kevise Belho of T Khel clinched first place, while Kezhakhrietuo Mere and Lhouvisalie Mere, both from P Khel, finished second and third respectively.
The women’s cross country race saw Lhouvivonuo Keyho of P Khel setting a new meet record with a timing of 43:59 minutes. Neikesonuo Belho of T Khel, who finished second with a time of 44:20 minutes, also set a new meet record in the category. Khriezelhounuo Keyho of P Khel secured third position.
Guest of honour at the closing ceremony,
Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhütso, emphasised the significance of wrestling as a unifying sport for Kohima Village, describing the KVSA Meet as the largest village-level sporting event that brings families, friends, and neighbours together while promoting unity, harmony, and new relationships.
He stated that among various sports, belt wrestling has opened doors to wider platforms, noting that its proposed inclusion in the Olympics would enable local wrestlers to compete at national and international levels. He added that the growing recognition of sports has created opportunities for talented sportspersons to earn their livelihood.
Referring to unemployment among educated Naga youth, Dr Rhütso said sporting talent could serve as a viable avenue for livelihood and self-reliance.
He also stressed that Kohima Village, as the state capital, should lead by example by not providing opportunities to illegal immigrants, cautioning that practices such as leasing or renting properties and handing over taxi and two-wheeler permits to others undermine employment opportunities for local youth and affect their future.
Dr. Rhütso urged the people to live in harmony and set a positive example for others.