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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 19 (EMN): Neikerhezo Zhünyü emerged champion of the Angami Sports Association (ASA) 50th meet U-16 wrestling after dropping Menuolelie Chüpuo twice, who had a point deficit, at Khuochiezie local ground in Kohima on Saturday evening.
Zhünyü from Western Angami Youth Organisation (Wayo) fetched INR 40,000 winning the event, while his opponent, Chüpuo from Northern Angami Sports Association (Nasa) received INR 30,000 as the runner-up.
In addition, Zhünyü received the ‘best tactic’ award of INR 5,000.
Seyievizo Metha of Nasa and Kevizetuo Kuotsu from Wayo received INR 20,000 and INR 10,000 as the third and fourth position holders respectively.
Quarter finalist Menuovilie Lhoungu (Nasa), Ketouselie Miasalhou (Wayo), Kevisoneiu Üsou (Nasa) and Rüdilhou Sote (Nasa) received INR 5,000 each.
Nasa, which emerged as the group champions in the wrestling, was awarded a cash prize of INR 20,000, while Wayo received INR 15,000 as the second position.
CYO and Southern Angami Sports Association (Sasa) received INR 10,000 and INR 5,000 as the third and fourth respectively.
In the folk tune competition, Wayo emerged in first position, while Sasa and Nasa claimed second and third. In the war cry competition, Sasa won first position, CYO and Wayo emerged second and third respectively.
In the traditional trumpet blowing competition, Nasa emerged as the winner.
ASA president Lhoubeizo Kesiyie and ASA advisor Viliehu Nguzhü handed the prizes to the winners. The selected list of wrestlers to represent ASA in the forthcoming 28th Nagaland Wrestling Association championship was also announced.
With the culmination of the junior wrestling competition, the week-long ASA meet came to an end on Saturday evening.
Scores of sportspersons from the four units of ASA -- Nasa, Sasa, Wayo and CYO -- competed for top honours in various disciplines which began from February 14 at Tsiesema ground, IG Stadium, State Indoor Stadium and Khuochiezie local ground.
Nasa emerges overall champion
At the culmination of the events, Nasa emerged as the overall champions after garnering 27 gold, 31 silver and 12 bronze, while Sasa stood second with 11 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze.
Wayo was placed in the third position with three gold, one silver and three bronze, while CYO stood fourth with two gold, one silver and one bronze.
Liezietsu underscores for promotion of wrestling and wrestlers
Earlier, MLA Khriehu Liezietsu, speaking at the wrestling event, expressed happiness to witness the participation of a huge number of junior wrestlers despite education being emphasised as the top priority in children’s lives.
Maintaining that even in the villages, children nowadays do not like to play in muddy playfields and be stained, he reminded on the importance of engaging young wrestlers to compete or train at more proper facilities like indoor stadiums.
“Childhood is the best time to learn anything,” Liezietsu said.
Recalling how the revered traditional wrestling was held to resolve small boundary disputes or to prevent possible hostilities between people in olden days, he reiterated the need to continue preserving and promoting the indigenous wrestling passed on by the ancestors.
He also suggested forming district wrestling associations and introducing more categories for more participation from other tribes instead of confining the sport to two-three tribes and opined that the indigenous game could reach larger audience with the availability of modern technologies.
Acknowledging that wrestlers have become more disciplined over the years, becoming more health conscious, the legislator recommended wrestling as a profession for such sportsperson and urged organisers to give regular platforms for grapplers to compete.
However, he reminded wrestlers that their sole aim should not only to win competitions but to make more friendships with their opponents, while becoming good citizens in the society, who could lead by example even off the ring.