Naga style wrestling 25 tournament journey: A glimpse

Wrestling is one of the oldest traditional games practiced by the Nagas from time immemorial. The Naga Wrestling friendly tournament is believed to have started in the later parts of 1930’s. During its early days; some of the tournaments were organized by the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN). The NWA recorded some facts of the events held from reliable sources and official records. The Naga National level friendly wrestling tournament was firstly organized in the year 1939 at Naga Hospital, Kohima. Simultaneously, the friendly matches were properly organized in the following years; 1942, 1947, 1966, 1967 and 1969 at Kohima. On 22nd March 1965, the 4th Naga Wrestling tournament was organized by the Federal Government of Nagaland at Senapati, Manipur Naga Area under the FGN leaders Lt. Commissioner Vetsosa (Rtd.), Lt. Brigadier Dikha Khezha and Commissioner Mr. A. K. Lungalung (Rtd.). However, as per record of the Nagaland Wrestling Association, the Association was formally launched in the year 1969 with Late. Wezülhi C. Krome, a pioneering Naga Leader & Ex-MLA as it’s first President under the nomenclature Naga Wrestling Board. It was also reported that a wrestling tournament was organized in the year 1970 at Thizama, Kohima, Nagaland and some of the wrestlers were declared the best wrestlers of the year which was according to the traditional way of competition. Meanwhile, as per the document (Original Program) being made available, under the aegis of the Naga Wrestling Board, the First Naga Wrestling Tournament was held at Kohima Local ground on 20th May 1971 under the President ship of Late. Wezülhi C. Krome with JB. Jasokie, Minister of Education, Nagaland as the chief guest and Z. Obed, Deputy Commissioner, Kohima as the guest of honour. Though there was no individual championship that year, 1971 tournament was counted as the first edition of the NWA tournament. The NWA real fight championship was organized in the year 1972 at Kohima where Late. Velahu Puro from Kikruma Village under Phek district was declared the first champion of the Nagaland Wrestling Association meet. The NWA thereafter held a regular championship after every alternate year and is continuing till date. The Naga Style Wrestling is one of the oldest traditional games practised in the state. The Naga Style Wrestling has no weight categories but is open to all manhood where anyone of any weight can wrestle according to the lottery basis. Interestingly, during the early days of the Association, the tournaments were conducted without any written rules & regulations and constitution which continued to function according to conventional ways of practice for some consecutive years. The NWA first written constitution was approved on 28th May, 1982 under the President ship of Satuo Kuotsu. However, with the advancement of the Association where it need to modified both the general and technical aspect, under the President ship of Neikhrolo Khalo, the NWA re-drafted it and approved during the general meeting on 1st June 2013 at Hotel Japfü, Kohima. Similarly, rules and regulations was first drafted and approved on 26th March 2008 under the President ship of Er. K. Keditsu. However, with an intention of avoiding some contentious cases and to make the game fairer, the Association under the President ship of Neikhrolo Khalo re-drafted the rules and regulations and was unanimously approved during the general meeting on 1st August 2013. The wrestling Constitution and Rules & Regulations are well maintained and the tournaments are conducted satisfactorily with positive impact. The Nagaland Wrestling Association believes that among different styles and applied tactics, the Naga Wrestling style is one of the fairest & finest way to wrestle. The NWA strongly believes, the beautiful indigenous game of the Nagas will flourish in the international level in the days to come. In order to update with the latest global trend, the NWA had launched its website on 2nd March, 2015 at Hotel Ura, Kohima where Y. Vikheho Swu, the then Parliamentary Secretary, Irrigation & Flood Control and Election, government of Nagaland launched the same. One can visit NWA website @ www.nagalandwrestlingassociation.org The Nagas are very enthusiastic in the field of sports which is inherent by the time immemorial of our ancestors. Amongst the multi-discipline of sports, the Naga Style wrestling is one of the most popular games honoured by one and all, which is properly organized in the highest level by the Nagaland Wrestling Association to this day. It is also to be noted that the wrestling game is practiced as a traditional game not only by the Nagas or Indians but it is equally popular in many other Countries around the world. The Naga Wrestling is one of the original traditional games, to attain international status and is one of the most humanity associated sports in different parts of the world. We are all aware that there are some differences in style & tactics to be followed in the Wrestling game. In Nagaland, the Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) is one of the oldest Sports Association formed in the State. Some of the importance of wrestling in the Naga Society during the olden days and even today is:- (a). To settle the contentious land dispute cases. (b). To satisfy/ settle the group differences in issues like clan to clan, village to village, individual to individual, if any case of misunderstanding arises. (c). Organizing the game along with significant festivals of various communities, important events and competing to be the best and strongest man in the particular Village, Region, Institute or a particular Tribe and thereafter to the state level. (d). Through wrestling, various tribes and individuals hailing from different backgrounds unite to strengthen the bond between them. The NWA also conducted free-style wrestling Tournament for all categories comprising of Senior category, Junior category & Sub-junior category for both male & female. The NWA was affiliated to the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) and The Wrestling Federation of India (W.F.I.) in the year 2002. Since then the NWA participated in the National Game held at Guwahati in 2007 and won the first Wrestling Bronze Medal for the state and kept on to win medals for the state in various national level tournaments as well as in different North Eastern level sport meets. The NWA usually organizes three main tournaments viz; Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) general tournament (Naga Style). This tournament is formally organized during the spring season in between February and April every alternate year. In this mega tournament, the wrestlers have to compete from the grass root village level. The winner of the village level will then be qualified to compete in the area wrestling tournament. Thereafter, the area champion along with other qualified players will be sent to the district level tournaments held by affiliated wresting organizations such as The Zeliang Wrestling Association in Peren District, Angami Sports Association in Kohima district and Chakhesang Wrestling Association in Phek district after which the top 20 winners of each district level tournaments will be qualified to compete in the highest state level NWA tournament as of now. In this popular Tournament of the state, the eligibility of the wrestlers will only be restricted to the affiliated Units. The second popular tournament of the NWA calendar is the Naga Open Wrestling Championship. This tournament is conducted every alternate year and is open to all interested professional wrestlers to participate without any restriction regardless of the tribe, caste etc of the wrestlers which is also open to all other Indians and to any other Nationals around the world. The third popular Naga-traditional wrestling tournament in the state is the Naga HORNBILL Wrestling Championship. The tournament is normally held every year during Hornbill festival either on 4th or 5th of December. The tournament is sponsored by the department of Tourism, Government of Nagaland, coinciding with the state’s 10 days Hornbill festival. In this mega tournament, the Association gives free entry and chances to all the professional wrestlers including other nationals and visiting tourists from other states. Meanwhile, each affiliated units gives 10 of their strong wrestlers to represent their own units and compete for the title of the said championship. There have been few professionals and some renowned wrestlers including Sumo Wrestlers from South Korea, Japan, the US and various Indian professional wrestlers from other states who participated in this tournament. With the participation of the foreign wrestlers in good numbers in the past years, 2015 championship was name after “9th International Hornbill Naga Wrestling championship”. From 1972 till date the NWA has its 21 Champions with 3 (three) persons winning the two championships. The NWA champions table is being given for the readers’ reference. Within a span of 4 decades, prize money is also amazingly enhanced, reliably learnt that in its 6th edition (1978) the champion fetched a cash prize of Rs. 1,000/- and in 8th edition (1982) the cash prize was enhanced to Rs. 2,000/- where in its 11th edition (1988) it was enhanced to Rs. 2,500/-, likewise the 24th edition (2014) prize money stands at Rs. 2,00,000/- and finally the 25th edition (2016) the champion would fetched Rs. 5,00,000/- along with Late. Velahü Puro Memorial trophy and cash award of Rs. 30,000/-. To my personal observation, tremendous changes were taken place on different aspects of the NWA. To internationalized the Naga Style wrestling is indeed the wishes of the general public specially the wrestling lovers, where suggestions and constructive criticisms should be invited by the NWA and carry forward the inputs for further deliberation at proper platform and adopted thereof. As the NWA observes its 25th Tournament Anniversary (10th & 11th March 2016), I sincerely appeal to the wrestling lovers (spectators) to maintain decency and decorum during the tournament as part of 25th Tournament Anniversary personal pledge. In conclusion, I beg an apology if my simple write up do hurts the sentiments of any reader(s), NWA, ASA, CWA, ZWA etc. (Source: www.nagalandwrestlingassociation.org ) (Kuzhovesa Soho) Forest Colony, Kohima. For any queries dial at; 9862778564/9436420061 or email at kezs@rediffmail.com