13th Nagaland Wrestling Association open championship announced

Our Correspondent

Kohima, March 20 (EMN): The Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) has announcement that they will organise the 13th NWA open wrestling championship on April 9 at Khuociezhie (local ground) in Kohima. 

Briefing journalists on Saturday in Kohima, NWA officials informed that unlike past years where the open tournament was conducted without category system, wrestlers in this year’s competition would be divided into two divisions — 80 kg and above category and 80 kg and below category.

Dr. Haibe Zeliang, president of NWA, informed that INR 50,000 will be awarded to each champion of the two divisions; INR 30,000 each for first runners-up; INR 20,000 each for second runners-up and INR 15,000 each for the third runners-up. 

Meanwhile, eight quarter-finalists from each category will be made to compete with each other for the “ultimate championship” title. 

Under this competition, the champion will fetch a cash prize of INR 1, 70, 000 while first runner-up will receive INR 1, 20, 000. The second and third runners-up will receive INR 1, 00, 000 and INR 70,000 respectively.

Altogether, INR 6, 90, 000 has been set aside for the open wrestling.

The event will be hosted by Chakhesang Wrestling Association while the game will be conducted by Nagaland Wrestling Referee Board with video review for any complaints. 

It was informed that the category system was introduced to promote the Naga style wrestling more within and beyond the state and take part in the coveted championship.

NWA apprised that they have also extended invitation to some wrestling associations in neighbouring areas like Maram in Manipur. 

When queried whether other wrestlers from other countries were invited like last time, NWA officials informed that owing to Covid-19 protocols, the same could not be extended this time.

Vilekho Bio, general secretary of NWA, informed that the competition will be screened live online through pay and watch system. 

Meanwhile, the organisers informed that the gallery ticket has been enhanced to INR 100-150 while stating that the same has not been revised for about a decade. The chair and donor ticket have been fixed at INR 500 and INR 2000 respectively.

Meanwhile, interested wrestlers have been informed to obtain the registration form at Sports World, Kohima, through NWA officials or unit presidents, which can be submitted from where the forms are obtained. 

It was learnt that character certificate from each competitor will be incorporated in this competition. The last date of submission of forms has been fixed for March 31.

The association informed that Covid-19 test reports is required from every participant before taking part in the competition, stating that the game would be organised by maintaining the government SOPs.