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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 29 (EMN): 24-year old Kekhrie Yhoshü of Kigwema village, standing 5.11 feet and weighing 90 kg, defeated 20-year old Neithongulie Kuotsu of Phesama village, 5.9 feet and 78 kg, in a straight bout to become the new champion of the 58th Southern Angami Sports Association (SASA) sporting event in the final match played on Wednesday evening in front of a capacity crowd at the Khuochiezie local ground in Kohima.
Kevime Vitsu of Viswema village took the third position after taking down Kelengol Kikhi of Viswema village.
Kekhrie Yhoshü won a sum of INR 80,000 as the champion while runner-up Neithongulie received INR 60,000.
Kevime and Kelengol received INR 40,000 and INR 20,000 as the third and fourth position winners respectively.
Altogether 57 strong wrestlers from the southern Angami region representing Viswema, Kidima, Jakhama, Kezona, Kigwema, Sakhabama, Pfüchama, Mima, and Phesama villages braved the cold and competed in the SASA Wrestling Meet.
Earlier, declaring the two-day wrestling meet open, MLA Zale Neikha, advisor of Youth Resources and Sports (YRS) urged the players to be disciplined, practise and maintain fitness and enough physical preparedness prior to their game.
He said many parents at a point of time discouraged their children from taking part in the respected traditional wrestling game because players disregarded the spirit of sportsmanship.
Neikha therefore, reminded the sportsmen about the rich practical values of the traditional sport which was passed down by the forefathers and urged the players to emulate the examples of a true sportsman.
Cautioning wrestlers to do away with unhealthy food habits, the MLA emphasised on the importance of physical exercise and fitness, one's training and preparation before every wrestling tournament.
He stated the similarity between the traditional Naga wrestling and the popular belt wrestling stating the latter is slowly gaining its popularity and likely to be inducted to the Olympic Games soon.
While citing examples of Naga wrestlers who participated in the national belt wrestling competitions and brought laurels to the state, he asked the players to take the traditional game seriously for its scope since belt wrestling involves similar tactics as Naga style wrestling .
The competition was put to hold for an hour due to protest over a match.
While, 35 wrestlers will vie for the U-16 junior division which will begin from 10 am onwards at the venue on Thursday. The closing ceremony will be followed wherein prizes will be distributed to both the winners of senior and U-16 categories.