Four Nagaland Pencak Silat athletes join national elite training

DIMAPUR — Four athletes from the Nagaland Pencak Silat Association are currently undergoing a three-month National Elite Training and Coaching Programme at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, under the initiative Pencak Silat – Road to Olympic.

According to an update, the programme has brought together the top 100 athletes from across India under the Indian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF) with the objective of preparing national-level players for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympic Games.

The training camp is being conducted under the guidance of international Pencak Silat coach and legend of the sport, Suhud Indratno from Indonesia.

Also read: Ligue1: PSG hit back to hold Strasbourg in 3-3 thriller

A highly respected martial artist, educator, and mentor in the global Silat community, Indratno’s guidance focuses on technical mastery, tactical intelligence, physical conditioning, and psychological readiness, offering international-standard training methodologies.

The four athletes representing Nagaland are:

Kitenlo K Thono, silver medallist at the 3rd Asian Pencak Silat Championship in Vietnam, gold medallist at the 37th National Games in Goa, and gold medallist at the 3rd North East Games in Nagaland.

Kevin, dual gold medallist at the Khelo India Beach Games 2025 in Diu and the All India University Games 2025 in Bangalore, Karnataka; winner of three gold medals at the 3rd North East Games in Nagaland; and silver and bronze medallist at the Senior National Pencak Silat Championship in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 2024.

Hinokali, dual bronze medallist at the 3rd Asian Pencak Silat Championship in Vietnam and the 37th National Games in Goa; winner of two gold medals at the 3rd North East Games in Nagaland; and gold medallist at the Senior National Pencak Silat Championship in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 2025.

Avikali V Shequi, bronze medallist at the 37th National Games in Goa; winner of two gold medals at the 3rd North East Games in Nagaland; gold medallist at the Senior National Pencak Silat Championship, Odisha, 2024; and silver medallist at the Khelo India Beach Games 2025 in Diu.

The association expressed pride in the athletes’ selection, noting that training under international coach Suhud Indratno is a significant opportunity.

It extended its best wishes to the athletes and conveyed gratitude to the Director General, Md Iqbal, of the Indian Pencak Silat Federation, and Indratno for their efforts in uplifting the standard of the sport.