Dimapur, July 4 (EMN): TheNagaland taekwondo team won 18 medals (eight gold, six silver and four bronze medals) at the Open India Kukkiwon Dispatched Master Championship, organised by Titabor Dojang Taekwondo Academy at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Jorhat, Assam, which concluded on July 3 evening.
The team also finished third place in the overall group placing with Delhi and Assam ahead of the Nagaland team, an update informed.
In the Pee Wee category (under-8 years), twin brothers -- Shiuthong (U-24 kg) and Shiusuthong (U-22 kg) -- secured gold medals, while six-year-old Alimthong, the youngest participant from Nagaland, secured a silver medal in U-16 kg.
A total of 20 players from Sports Academy, IG Stadium, Kohima took part in the competition led by Visabiu Peseyie, state taekwondo coach and Khrieto as manager.
Coach Visabiu Peseyie, despite expressing his happiness about the results of the championship, suggested that talented players need special training and competition in the international arena from time to time in order to become a professional player.
He also acknowledged the department of Youth Resources and Sports (YRS) for giving him the opportunity to let his players compete with others, outside the state. He also expressed his satisfaction teaching some of the new players, who were recently scouted for taekwondo discipline and showed promising signs in the tournament.
Stating that last year, the YRS department had assigned him to scout talents in certain villages, he informed that he picked seven talented young boys (all under ten years) for Sports Academy IG Stadium, Kohima. Among the seven players, two won gold and one secured silver medal, he mentioned.
The coach also announced that five Naga taekwondo boys -- Heutingyi Zeliang, Boto Chophy, Teklung Phom, Yentsuthung Tikhir and Neikhozo Naprantsu -- have been inducted into the army boys’ sports company, Ranikhet, it informed.
In the sub-junior (U-11 years) category, Pauninglungbe Ndang (U-29 kg) secured a gold medal, Athongti (U-32 kg) secured a silver medal, while Pauziechangbe Herie (U-25 kg) secured a bronze medal.
In cadet (U-14 years) category, Lensethong Tikhir (U-33 kg), Manong Konyak (U-37 kg), Longkhan Phom (U-49 kg) secured a gold medal each and Thongti Thonger (U-45 kg) secured a bronze medal.
In junior (U-17 years) category, T Kiutsu (U-55 kg) secured a gold medal, Epithung Tungoe (U-45 kg) and K Yimkiumong (U-51 kg) secured a silver medal, while Wangan Phom (U-48 kg) claimed a bronze medal. In the senior (above 17 years) category, Keneilevo Nagi (U-80 kg) secured a gold medal, Repinkiu Tikhir (U-54 kg) and Zakieneikho Peseyie (U-74 kg) secured a silver medal each, while Vilabizo Nagi (U-63 kg) secured a bronze medal, it said.