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Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 11 (EMN): Khrukuzo Nyekha (5'6 feet and 72 kg) defeated familiar foe Kuvenu Puro (5'8 feet and 65 kg) in straight two bouts to emerge the champion of the 1st U-16 wrestling tournament on Wednesday, March 11, at Khuochiezie local ground in Kohima.
The competition coincided with the 27th Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) Championship and 50th anniversary celebration of the NWA's inception.
Nyekha who hails from Suthozu village walked home richer with INR 1.5 lakh while Puro fetched INR 80,000 with a citation. Both the wrestlers represented Chakhesang Wrestling Association (CWA).
Mhasezo Chüzho (5'5 feet and 60 kg) from Thipuzu village representing CWA edged out Neikotsilie Krose of Angami Sports Association (ASA) from Medziphema village in the deciding bout to take the third position.
Winning the match, Chüzho fetched a cash award of INR 50,000 while Krose received INR 30,000 and a citation as the fourth position holder, respectively.
The four losing quarterfinalists namely Mulecüyi Vadeo, Kusayi Tsutso, Ozho Kezo and Kuzuveto Veswu along with the winners of the first, second, third and fourth positions will be provided INR 1,000 per month as scholarship for one year. However, only those wrestlers studying in schools are entitled to this facility sponsored by NWA.
Altogether 36 wrestlers comprising 12 each from the Angami, Chakhesang and Zeliang tribes took part in the competition in which they pocketed INR 2,000 each with citations.
The prizes for the winners and participants of both the 27th NWA Championship and 1st U-16 Wrestling competitions were distributed by NWA officials.
Neivikuolie Khatsu, former president of NWA handed over the biennial tournament flag to Dr. Hiabe Zeliang, the incoming president who will be leading the new team of office bearers for the tenure 2020-2024.
Meanwhile, 19 players from the state who took part in the 8th AITWPF National Traditional Wrestling and Pankration (belt wrestling) Championship 2019 held at Hyderabad were felicitated with citations during the prize distribution ceremony.
Mosonyi Domeh, vice president of NWA and vice president of the All India Traditional Wrestling and Pankration Federation (AITWA) highlighted the scope of belt wrestling, and said the objectives of the association (NWA) is to preserve and enrich traditional wrestling styles besides promoting national and international wrestling styles.
He informed that there are several forms of wrestling played in the world such as Greco Roman Style, Free Style, Kazakh Koresh Style, Alysh Style, and “Naga style” wrestling etc. Domeh said among these wrestling sports which are part of the belt wrestling, Greco Roman and Free Style wrestlings are Olympic medal events whereas other styles of wrestling are yet to be introduced in the Olympic.
Belt wrestling is one of the most popular sports in central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Takistan among other countries. Domeh said the AITWPF is trying its best to make belt wrestling an Olympic event.
He stated that the purpose of introducing the U-16 wrestling is to prepare them for national and international belt wrestling competitions.
He exuded confident that the experience the wrestlers gain through the process of selections and participation in NWA tournaments would motivate them to take wrestling as a profession for greater platforms and bring laurels to the state. "The excellence in Naga style wrestling will definitely help them to perform better in belt wrestling," Domeh said.