12th UAVYO annual sports meet kicks off

DIMAPUR — The 12th annual sports meet of the Urra Area Villages’ Youth Organisation (UAVYO) on the theme ‘Breaking the barriers through sports’ kicked off on Tuesday at Singrijan village local ground, Chümoukedima.

Addressing the inaugural programme as the special guest, Nagaland State VDB Association (NSVDBA) president Tohoshe Awomi remarked that Urra Area is making notable progress in various fields. He advised the youth to give equal importance to both sports and education to achieve success in life.

Awomi said that the PDA government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, has placed greater focus on sports in Nagaland, providing many Naga athletes with opportunities for professional training.

Claiming that the government has built world-class sports infrastructure in Nagaland, he encouraged the youth to seize this opportunity and make the most of it.

He also said that the youth should not think that job opportunities come only through education, as opportunities exist in many fields. In sports, there are numerous job prospects, both at the state and central levels, he said.

He also cited the example of Hokato Hotozhe Sema, the bronze medallist in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, and urged the youth to learn from his determination and resilience as a sportsperson.

Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by the president of UAVYO, Visü Sakhrie, and greetings by the president of Urra Area Villages Union (UAVU), Kesalie Thopi.

Twelve units under the UAVYO will be competing in football (men) and volleyball (both men and women). Deputy Commissioner of Police Dimapur, Khrusa Keyho, has consented to attend the closing ceremony as the guest of honour on Oct. 26.