NagaWrestleMania-9: Kezhaseluo-o Pienyü is King of the Ring

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Oct. 22 (EMN): Kezhaseluo-o Pienyü emerged as the champion of the NagaWrestleMania-9 King of the Ring series after defeating Kezhavizo Thevo in the final with straight bouts on Saturday evening at IG complex in Kohima.

Winning the coveted title, Pienyü lifted the championship belt along with a cash prize of INR 1,20,000.

Pienyü, who is also the champion of this year’s NagaWrestlingMania heavyweight category, entered the ultimate King of the Ring final after defeating Kevizhakho Suokhrie, the champion of the lightweight division in the second semi-final with a point deficit.

On the other hand, Kezhavizo Thevo received INR 60,000 as the runner-up. On the road to the final, he twice dropped Atuo Tevo, the third position holder of the heavyweight championship division, during their semi-final match.

Atuo Tevo received INR 30,000 on being declared the third position holder after winning straight bouts over Kevizhakho Suokhrie, who had to be content with INR 15,000 as the fourth position title winner.

20 strong wrestlers including three Chin wrestlers from the US were selected after the heavyweight and lightweight championship events during the past two days before competing in the King of the Ring category.

Reigning Chin lightweight wrestling champion, Van Ceu Hmung, who lost during the second round on Saturday, told Eastern Mirror that his “plans did now work as expected,” competing in the Naga style wrestling for the first time ever.

He said that his experience in the event was different this time as the rule of Chin wrestling is different from that of Naga wrestling.

Hmung narrated that, in Chin wrestling, unless the back is pinned on the mat, it is not declared a fall even if the belly touches the floor unlike the Naga traditional sport.

He was appreciative of the Naga wrestlers saying the contenders were “very good,” while inviting them to America too to partake in their Chin wrestling championship.

Hmung said that he would be looking forward to coming back to Nagaland and competing in the event again.

Current Chin heavyweight wrestling champion, Biak Hmun Sang also commended the Naga wrestlers for being “strong and big.”

Accepting his defeat politely, he said, “I am not ashamed to lose as I was clearly beaten”.

However, Sang opined that the weight category has to be matched while citing how he lost in a pre-quarter final match during the day while grappling with an opponent who weighed heavier than him.

He expressed optimism in gaining weight and coming back to Nagaland to clinch the championship title if given a “second chance”.

“Giving up is not an option if you want to win; to be a champion you have to go through a lot of steps,” Sang said.

The three-day NagaWrestleMania-9 King of the Ring series was presented by Vuto Hyundai and organised by 3E Nagaland under the aegis of Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA).