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The six Naga wrestlers with NWA officials and well wishers during the reception programme outside AMK Building, Kohima on September 26. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima, Sep. 26 (EMN): The six Naga wrestlers who represented India at the 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan from September 19 to 23, returned on Tuesday evening.
Following their arrival to the State capital, the Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) organised a warm reception for the wrestlers and officials at NWA office, AMK Building, Kohima.
Out of the six wrestlers, Keduovilie Zumu, who hails from Tuophema village, won a bronze medal in the 90 kg category of Kazakh Kuresh style of belt wrestling. The other wrestlers were Surhoneyi Soho from Phek village, Vechita Khesoh from Yorüba, Visevo Zashümo from Phesama, Venuzo Dawhuo from Thenyizu and Menuosetuo Yiese from Kohima village.
The Nagaland team, led by NWA president Neivikuolie Khatsü and general secretary Vekhozo, were part of the Indian contingent comprising 35 wrestlers and 10 officials. A total of 65 countries took part in the tournament, it was informed.
This was the first ever event where Naga wrestlers represented the country, and proudly, a wrestler had won a medal for the country. It may be mentioned that three other Indian wrestlers, including one male and two female, also won bronze medals in their respective categories.
Addressing the media persons, the NWA president congratulated the bronze medal winner Keduovilie, while he also lauded the five other wrestlers for representing the country.
Stating that the Naga wrestlers are second to none, Khatsü expressed high hope that more Naga wrestlers will win more medals for the country in the years to ahead.
Though this was the first exposure for the Naga wrestlers outside the country, the NWA president was happy that all the wrestlers performed exceptionally well during the tournament at Turkmenistan.
“We have to push our wrestlers to avail better training outside the country if at all we have to excel at the international level,” Khatsü said adding that the NWA will look into all possibilities to give exposure to the wrestlers, either in training or even participation in outside tournaments.
Mentioning about the lack of training facilities here in the State, Khatsü stated the need to come up with wrestling academies in the State, so that the wrestlers gets the opportunity to avail training here at home.
“We have no academy here, and we wish to have one or two academies here in the State,” he said maintaining that the presence of wrestling academy will produce results for Naga wrestlers.
The medal winner Keduovilie Zumu was thankful to God for his achievement, and further to the NWA for the opportunity given to them.
Replying to queries on their experience at an international event, Zumu said that the biggest for them was category wrestling. Here in Nagaland, except the wrestling tournament organised by 3E which opens up category wrestling, the NWA is yet to introduce such system.
Sharing about his experience, reigning NWA champion Vechita Khesoh also said that we have to undergo a lot of training if we have to excel at the highest level.
The tournament being the first for Naga wrestlers outside the country, Vechita also pointed out that their confidence was not up to the mark as compared with the other wrestlers. He, however, expressed hope that they can also perform better if they were given the training opportunities like others.
With another similar tournament to be held in the later part of September 2018 at Jakarta, Indonesia, the NWA also expressed its hope of being invited by the National Traditional Wrestling Federation - India (NTWFI) to take part in the said tournament.
Meanwhile, the NWA has expressed its sincere appreciation to the chief minister TR Zeliang for sponsoring the trip, while the association has also thanked the former NWA president Nikhrolo Khalo, department of Youth & Sports Resources, PRO Nagaland House, New Delhi, Kuolie Mere, and Kekhriengulie Sekhose, VISA officer, posted at Asghabat, Turkmenistan, for their assistance and support.