Nagaland wins first NECDC Senior Men’s Interstate Friendship Trophy

Nagaland team won the first North East Cricket Development Committee (NECDC) Senior Men’s Intestate Friendship Tournament by defeating Manipur 19 runs in the final match Monday at Sovima Cricket Ground and Nagaland Cricket Ground, Sovima.
Batting first, Nagaland scored 192/9 in 35 overs and in reply, Manipur were bowled out for 173/8.
The tournament was organised under the banner of NECDC, sanctioned by the BCCI and hosted by Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA).
Addressing the gathering at the presentation ceremony at Nagaland Cricket Ground, Sovima, on Monday evening, Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio congratulated all the Nagaland team on winning the prestigious tournament and acknowledged the participating team for their participation.
Rio also appreciated members of the NECDC and NCA office bearers for successfully organizing the tournament and said that such tournaments were very important to build unity amongst the North East states.
Speaking on struggle of getting affiliated to the BCCI, Rio expressed happiness that the state along with the rest of the six North Eastern states under BCCI North East Zone, were coming up and getting better in the field of cricket and other sports as well. He also added that North East did not lack in talent but need dedication.
Claiming that Nagaland needed more developmental activities in the field of sports, he pointed that the state government was trying its best to promote youths in the field of sport discipline and urged youths to take up sports as a profession seriously assuring support from both the state government as well as the elder generations.
He also expressed hope that Nagaland would get the platform to host the next North East Olympics, however added that the same would be a challenge for all.