A Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MARCH 5
On Monday next at Imphal’s Khuman Lampak main stadium, Nagaland would be creating history by fielding football teams for the finals of both men and women at the 2nd edition of National Level North East Games (NLNEG), which is currently underway.
According to state football coach (men), Mughato Sumi, this is the first time in senior level football, in the region, that a state would be represented simultaneously in the finals of both men and women. On Monday the girls will play host Manipur while their male counterparts would take on Mizoram.
Both the teams topped their respective groups. The boys reached the final, beating host Manipur 3-2 on Saturday. In the final game of the group round, they had decimated Sikkim 8-0.
For the girls, they have reached the finals by winning all the matches played so far. In the semi-final played on Friday, they defeated Tripura 1-0.
It was informed that a contingent of 118 players are representing Nagaland in 7 different disciplines – Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Football, Judo, Table Tennis and Weightlifting. So far the medal tally for Nagaland stands at 22.
In Athletics, it has secured 3 golds, 1 silver and 6 bronzes. Another 8 bronzes have been won in Judo and 4 more bronzes in Boxing.
