KOHIMA — The 11th Kohima Open Volleyball Tournament 2024 (Men and Women) commenced on Wednesday at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, organised by the Kohima District Volleyball Association.
Attending the opening ceremony as the special guest, the Director of Youth Resources and Sports, Kethoituo Sekhose, expressed happiness for the tournament's broad participation, which includes teams from various districts within Nagaland and Senapati, Manipur.
Sekhose highlighted that volleyball, though a widely loved and accessible sport in Nagaland, has yet to reach the level of development it deserves. While football and cricket have grown into billion-dollar industries, volleyball remains underdeveloped despite its minimal requirements for equipment and space.
He praised the efforts of district associations, including those in Kohima, Mokokchung, and Zunheboto, to promote volleyball but acknowledged that more comprehensive strategies are needed.
Considering the success of club-based models in other sports, particularly football in Europe and cricket in India, Sekhose stressed that the growth of volleyball in Nagaland could benefit from a similar club culture. He noted that clubs have a dedicated fan base that sustains the sport and helps build a long-term sports ecosystem.
He called on the Nagaland Volleyball Association to foster club-based volleyball leagues in the state, suggesting that districts could establish multiple clubs to stimulate local interest and sustainability.
Sekhose, discussing the Nagaland government's initiative to establish the Nagaland Super League, a football league based on a franchise system, described this initiative as a model for fostering sustainable clubs that generate revenue independently, thereby promoting the game and encouraging community support.
The director also encouraged volleyball associations to explore adopting a similar model for volleyball, believing it would be viable given the sport's low infrastructure requirements.
He underscored the broader social benefits of sports development, including fitness and community well-being, aligning with the objectives of the Fit India Movement. Furthermore, he expressed confidence that investing in volleyball would help build a healthier society.
Earlier, a welcome address was delivered by Visasielie Suohu, president of the Kohima District Volleyball Association (KDVA), who informed that there are 12 teams competing in the men’s category and five teams in the women’s category. The tournament will culminate on November 1.
The winner of the men’s category will receive INR 1,00,000; the runner-up, INR 50,000; and each semi-finalist, INR 15,000. The winner of the women’s category will receive INR 60,000; the runner-up, INR 30,000; and each semi-finalist, INR 10,000. Individual prizes for both men and women include INR 5,000 for the best setter and INR 5,000 for the best spiker.