Nagaland working towards producing Olympians; keeps an eye on 2028 Los Angeles games

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 19 (EMN): Advisor for Youth Resources and Sports (YRS), Zale Neikha on Saturday shared that Nagaland, along with the entire country, is accelerating and working towards producing Olympians for the 2028 games in Los Angeles, USA.

Speaking to journalists in Kohima, Neikha said that boxing training had already started at the Boxing Academy in Dimapur and is in progress.

It may be noted that the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) at Indira Gandhi Stadium (IGS) Kohima, which houses three disciplines — archery, boxing and wrestling — was inaugurated virtually by the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju last year.

Neikha maintained that about 20-30 young boys and girls were training with the head coach, Neta who is from outside the state, and junior coach T Arenla from the state.

It was informed that the trainings were being facilitated through virtual platforms as the Covid-19 pandemic has withheld the head coach to be available at the training site.

However, the junior coach is training the athletes at the centre, he added.

The advisor maintained that the training for archery was going on ‘as usual’ at IGS Kohima and that he had been inspecting the training with four senior players — three men and a woman.

He informed that the department was trying to bring the Naga woman archery Olympian Chekrovolu Swuro to train the players and at the same time boost their morale and confidence.

However, it was informed that Swuro was preoccupied with her service in the Police department, and they were therefore pursuing the attachment of the former Olympian at IGS Kohima.

Neikha asserted that it has ‘approached’ the chief minister, who exuded confidence for a positive outcome.

The advisor informed that prior to the second wave of Covid-19, selection of coaches was held but none, including the incumbent state wrestling coach qualified for the wrestling discipline owing to the high qualifying criteria to be eligible for Khelo India.

Further, the advisor informed that the training for all the three disciplines is meant for both boys and girls and will be housed at IGS Kohima and boxing will also be shifted soon.

He expressed hope that with proper training, the state would be able to produce Olympians at least in one discipline out of the three.