Naga girls shine at 36th Kings Cup World Sepaktakraw Championship

KOHIMA— In yet another accomplishment, five girls from Nagaland who participated in the 36th Kings Cup World Sepaktakraw Championship at Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, from July 8 to 16, won six medals- two silver and four bronze for the Indian Team.

The girls were among the 15 members of the Indian sepaktakraw female team that participated in the event.

The Naga athletes included Jwensinle Kesen who won a silver and a bronze medal each, Menenu Tsükrü who secured a silver medal, while Seyiekhrieno Tepa, Sezovelu Dozo, and Akumtila won one bronze medal each.

Commenting on the girls’ feat, Holshe Khrieo, general secretary of Nagaland Sepak Takraw Association (NSTA), told Eastern Mirror that “Our Naga girls are doing very well”

He also said the girls will now be undergoing training for 45 days at a coaching camp in Bangkok in preparation for the upcoming 19th Asian Games to be held in the month of September in China.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is providing for the training and facilities for the Indian team.

The girls will undergo various categories of selection process where 12 out of the 15 female athletes will be selected for the Asian Games.

He added the girls are working so hard and doing well. They are expected to come to Nagaland after the abroad training and take a break for two weeks.

Initially, six of them participated in the championship in Thailand but one could not be selected for the abroad training while five who won medals and were selected. Among the six athletes, four are from the State Sports Academy, Dimapur and two are from SSB Assam.

It may be mentioned that the girls were selected for the now-concluded championship after Nagaland Team won silver medals in the national-level Sepak Takraw championship which was held in April this year.

Meanwhile, the NSTA is also preparing another batch of athletes to participate in the National Sepaktakraw Games tournament scheduled to be held in Goa.

Congratulating the girls, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the girls are “showing prowess” and making a mark for Nagaland and India.

Secretary General of Nagaland Olympic Association and advisor to the chief minister Abu Metha also congratulated the Indian team for winning five medals at the Championship. It was also informed that Metha is slated to visit the girls during their abroad training in Bangkok to show support.