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DIMAPUR — The second Nagaland Cricket Association "Achiever's Night" was held on Saturday at Town Hall, Zone Niathu by the Park, Chümoukedima, with the chairman of NIDC and director of Testso College, Kvulo Lorin, as the special guest.
At the award ceremony, Najmeen Khatun was awarded best batter and best wicketkeeper in the Under-15 girls' category, while best bowler was awarded to Bethel Jumei.
In the U-16 boys' category, best batter and best bowler were awarded to Aloto Sumi for scoring 641 runs and taking 33 wickets in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, while best wicketkeeper was awarded to Shyerinlo Thong for scoring 236 runs, making three stumpings, and taking 13 catches.
In the women's Under-19 category, best batter was awarded to Bipila for scoring 69 runs in the women’s U-19 tournaments, while best bowler was awarded to Vipeni for taking five wickets.
In the men's U-19 category, best batter and best wicketkeeper were awarded to Yugandhar Singh for scoring 725 runs, making two stumpings, and taking 10 catches in the men’s U-19 tournaments, while best bowler was awarded to Anil Gupta for taking 44 wickets.
In the women's U-23 category, best batter was awarded to Watinaro Pongen for scoring 107 runs in the women’s U-23 tournaments, best bowler was awarded to Sariba Khan for taking 14 wickets, and best wicketkeeper was awarded to Jyoti Thapa for scoring 33 runs and making four stumpings.
In the men's U-23 category, best batter was awarded to Hem Bahadur Chettri for scoring a total of 561 runs in the Col. CK Nayudu Trophy and one-days, best bowler was awarded to Neizekho Rupreo for taking 47 wickets in the Col. CK Nayudu Trophy, and best wicketkeeper was awarded to Afzal Hussain Choudhury for scoring 492 runs, making five stumpings, and taking 16 catches.
In the senior women's category, best batter was awarded to Sentilemla Imsong for scoring 162 runs in one-days and T-20s, best bowler was awarded to Sariba Khan for taking 12 wickets in one-days and T-20s, and best wicketkeeper was awarded to Jyoti Thapa for making a total of nine catches and stumpings.
In the senior men's category, best batter was awarded to Sedezhalie Rupreo for scoring a total of 529 runs in the senior men's tournaments, while best bowler was awarded to Imliwati Lemtur for taking 24 wickets.
At the event, the champion teams of the Men's Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy Plate Group 2023-24 and the men's U-23 Col. CK Nayudu Trophy Plate Group 2023-24 were also awarded.
In the individual achievement category, Sentilemla Imsong was awarded for being the first woman cricketer from the north-east to score a half-century in the BCCI Zonal Tournament 2023-24.
Neizekho Rupreo was awarded in recognition of his achievement as the highest wicket-taker in the Col. CK Nayudu Trophy 2023-24, while Aloto Sumi was honoured as the emerging player for ranking fourth in all India most runs with three centuries and two half-centuries and 11th in all India highest wicket-takers in the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2023-24.
Speaking on the occasion, Lorin asserted that people have to be grateful to the chief patron of the Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA) and Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, as from not having even one cricket ground, they now have three cricket grounds with practice pitches being developed across various locations.
He also expressed gratitude to the parents for supporting their children in pursuing sports professionally, acknowledging that Naga people do not traditionally view sports as a profession due to the lack of sufficient financial opportunities in most sports.
He added that when the NCA was first established, no one could have imagined it would reach this level today. He noted that cricket is likely one sport where Naga people can create a market and it is only a matter of time before they achieve significant success.
He mentioned the ongoing development of facilities and infrastructure in various districts and expressed hope that this would inspire many and shift the mindset to view sports as a viable career option.
In his opening remarks, Honorary Secretary of the NCA, Hyunilo Anilo Khing, stated that the association is striving to promote the game throughout the state of Nagaland and has reached certain levels of success.
Khing highlighted that since 2018, they have participated in all BCCI tournaments and mentioned that cricketers from Nagaland contribute between INR 2.5 and INR 3 crore annually, positively impacting the state’s economy. He also remarked that a career in cricket is among the most rewarding professions.