NagaWrestleMania-9: Kevizhakho Suokhrie wins lightweight championship title

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Oct. 20 (EMN): Kevizhakho Suokhrie dropped Azhalhou Kire twice to win the championship title in the lightweight division at the ongoing NagaWrestleMania-9 (King of the Ring Series 2022) on Thursday evening at IG Stadium complex in Kohima.

Suokhrie won the championship belt along with INR 50,000 while Kire received INR 30,000.

Mülüsü Veswüh and Seyiezhato Sano received INR 15,000 and INR 10,000 respectively.

Reigning Chin lightweight champion from US, Van Ceu Hmung, lost to the eventual champion by a point deficit (2-1) during the pre-quarter final round.

Over 40 wrestlers competed for the coveted title.

Earlier, advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, associate vice president of Athletics Federation of India and secretary general of Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA), Abu Metha, graced the inaugural session.

Managing director of 3E Nagaland, Kethosituo Elvis Mepfhuo, recalled how NagaWrestleMania (King of the Ring Series) was conceptualised by them back in 2012 with a view to give equal opportunities to wrestlers of different sizes and at the same time, retain the traditional system of open weight competition under the same platform.

“Along the way, owing to different reasons, categories have been reduced to suit the availability of wrestlers, but we still feel there should be more categories to promote our traditional sport that we so passionately follow,” he said.

However, in order to do that, he emphasised on the system that needs to be changed while the wrestlers as well as governing bodies need to have broad-minded approach. “Naga wrestling needs more tournaments in a year for wrestlers to strive,” he said.

On Friday, the heavyweight category will commence from 12 noon with about 14 wrestlers including Biak Hmun Sang (current Chin heavyweight champion) and Uk Lian Thang (former Chin wrestling heavyweight champion) from the US.

The event is presented by Vuto Hyundai and organised by 3E Nagaland under the aegis of NWA.