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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 14 (EMN): The much-anticipated 65th Kohima Village Sports Association (KVSA) meet 2022, will be held at Khuochiezie local ground, IG Stadium, Rüleizou and State Indoor Stadium, Thephegei in Kohima from Jan. 17 to the 22nd.
It was announced by the core committee officials of KVSA during a press conference on Friday at Khuochiezie.
It said that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has consented to be the special guest during the week-long KVSA Meet 2022.
Neingusalie Khruomo, convenor of KVSA meet core committee, informed that a prelude to the event will begin at 10 am on day-one at Thevokemouzie, from where KVSA sports meet was first initiated in 1944 at Lhisemia khel in Kohima village.This would be followed up by the inaugural ceremony at Khuochiezie, following which the U-16 Naga style wrestling and basketball for men and volleyball for men and women will commence.
On the second and third day, athletics for men and women, chess and football for men will begin at IG Stadium. Football will be played at IG Stadium on day four and basketball and volleyball will continue on the same day at Khuochiezie. The football final match will take place at IG Stadium on the fifth day.
Events like Naga style wrestling (junior and senior), cross country race for both genders while the closing ceremony will be held in the evening will be played on the sixth day.
It was informed that 5000 metre race for men, 4x400 mixed relay race as well as triple jump for women would also be introduced.
The committee officials informed that altogether, 1000 people including sportspersons and different officials will be part of the meet.
Khruomo stated that about 150 contingents each from the four khels of Kohima village -- Pfuchatsumia, Lhisemia, Tsütuonuomia and Dapfhütsumia -- would be vying for the championship titles in different disciplines. He maintained that 100% Covid-19 vaccination has been assured to the sportspersons and officials who are currently being confined to bio-bubble in their respective camps.
Khriesazo Liezietsu, convenor of KVSA meet production team, informed that both veteran and prominent sportspersons would be the torch and flag bearers on the inaugural day. He said that a stone-pulling ceremony as part of the inaugural ceremony, featuring children has to be pulled out owing to the development taking place in the country in view of the pandemic.
The mascot for the meet is a cartoon rooster named “Vi Lope” in Tenyidie, which signifies ‘self-confidence and being perfect in one's skill’.
To conduct the meet, the association will be roping in Kewhimia Wrestling officials, Nagaland Athletic Officials Club, Kohima District Volleyball Association, Suncity Kohima, Kohima Town Club, Kohima Village Doctors Association, Kohima District Chess Association, Kohima District Badminton Association and Kohima District Table Tennis Association.
Meanwhile, it asserted that it has become a trend for every organiser to bear the brunt of maintaining the sports facilities in shape to conduct any event, noticing how such venues are often ignored. Therefore, the association appealed to the concerned authority to take responsibility in keeping the facilities set up by the government in good condition, be it in Kohima or elsewhere in the state for the welfare of sportspersons.