Zunheboto district emerged as the overall champions of the Wushu competition held as part of the 3rd Nagaland Olympics & Paralympic Games 2024 at Arena E, Chumoukedima, on Friday.
The competition concluded with Zunheboto taking 3 gold, 4 silver, and two bronze medals, totalling 9 medals, followed by Dimapur in second with six medals (3 gold, one silver, and two bronze).
The best fighter award was given to Mankho T. Konyak of Mon district, while Peren district was adjudged as the best disciplined team.
The two-day-long Wushu competition, part of the ongoing 3rd Nagaland Olympic and Paralympic Games, was organized by the Nagaland Wushu Association.
A total of 52 participants, including seven females from Dimapur, Peren, Phek, Mon, Shamator, Mokokchung, and Zunheboto districts, took part in the championship.
During the valedictory function, advisor CAWD & Taxes and president of the NWA, Kudecho Khamo, graced the closing ceremony. In his speech, he encouraged all youths to consider sports as a profession, highlighting the sports industry’s lucrative prospects at the moment. Khamo emphasized that through sports, one could become an ambassador for the state to the rest of the world.
He appreciated the participants for making the event a success and noted that under the leadership of NOA president and CM Niephiu Rio, sports facilities and platforms have improved over the years.
As president of the Nagaland Wushu Association, the advisor assured that despite its lack of facilities and financial constraints, the association is committed and dedicated to nurturing Wushu players in the state.
Advisor to the chief minister, chairman of IDAN, and Secretary General of the Nagaland Olympic Association, Abu Metha, while congratulating the association for successfully conducting the event, stated that Wushu is a strong pillar for the NOA. He mentioned that Wushu was one of the most entertaining events at the Nagaland Olympic Games and announced that the best players would be representing the state at the Northeast Olympic Games in one month’s time.
He acknowledged that Wushu is a popular sport not just in the state but across the country, emphasizing that there is no shortcut in sports but through hard work and effort, reaching the highest level is possible.
He highlighted that sports offer the opportunity to become national and international figures, where anything is possible. He further encouraged all participants to work hard to represent the state.
Wushu Association of India observers were present during the occasion of the two-day-long championship.
Dimapur district tops in Pencak Silat competition
Dimapur district topped the medals in Pencak Silat competition with 11 gold, seven silver and five bronze organised as part of the 3rd Nagaland Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024. The Pencak Silat competition culminated on Friday at Immanuel Hall, Y. Zhimo Colony, Dimapur with advisor for Youth Resources and Sports, Keoshu Yimchunger gracing the closing ceremony as special guest and former MLA & advisor, chief patron NPSA, H. Khehovi Yeptho as honoured guest.
The two-day Pencak Silat competition witnessed spectacular matches under different categories for both boys and girls in which Dimapur district bagged 11 gold, seven silver and five bronze; Chumoukedima – seven gold, five silver and seven bronze; Tseminyu – four gold, two silver and two bronze; Kiphire – one gold and two silver; Peren – one gold and two silver and Niuland – one silver and one bronze.
Speaking at the valedictory programme, Keoshu while acknowledging the achievements and laurels brought by Nagaland Pencak Silat Association (NPSA) members to Nagaland during last five years, encouraged the participants to be determined, focussed and disciplined in order to pave a brighter future and said that they would become the history maker.
He said that, Nagas have inborn talents in sports but lamented that only during winters, different games and sports tournaments are being held which compromise the talents in any sports discipline after the season.
Expressing the commitment and efforts of state government and department of Youth Resources & Sports towards promoting of youngsters in sports, Keoshu mentioned that the inclusive of Pencak Silat game at Nagaland Olympic, Paralympic Games and NE Olympic 2024, was a testimony of state government to promote sports for youngsters.
He also encouraged the participants and youngsters to take advantage of such opportunity for utilizing their talents and discipline to reach international arena.
The advisor further said that there were several disciplines under sports category playing in Nagaland but expressed hope that Pencak Silat would bring laurels to the state.
It may be mentioned that NPSA has taken tremendous efforts over the five years ensuring platform for the athletes to showcase their skills in Nagaland sporting landscape and with all the constant support and strong firm. The athletes have participated and won medals in various events, tournaments and national games bringing laurels to the state including creating history at “Guinness World Record” for the highest assisted martial arts kick of 14.5 ft by the NPSA athletes in the sets of “India’s Got Talent”.
The NPSA also aims to bring young minds together and encourages practitioners to play as a team in unity and take up the sport for physical fitness, enhanced self – discipline, deeper understanding of martial arts and creating employment opportunity or any other relevant prospects.
Some of the major objectives of the NPSA includes development of sports in the state, to establish sports educational and recreation centres, provide students social development programme and to work in co–ordination with any government agencies, Olympic Associations, national, international, or any other service organizations and also to undertake any activities of the mentioned organizations entrusted by them. Earlier, Diana hosted the programme, invocation by youth pastor, Lhomithi Baptist Church, Dimapur Inakavi Aye, demonstration by Team Silat Nagaland and special number by Kivikali H. Chophy.
(Staff Reporter)
