NOA lauds stellar performance of Nagaland at 3rd North East Games

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) congratulated the Nagaland contingent for its outstanding performance in the 3rd North East Games, showcasing remarkable improvement compared to the previous edition of the Games held in Shillong in 2022.

In a press statement, the NOA appreciated the role of the affiliated sports associations that collaborated with the NOA on all fronts to ensure that the 3rd North East Games were a resounding success.

It recalled that in the first-ever North East Games held in Imphal, Manipur, Nagaland secured 42 medals, including 6 gold, 9 silver, and 27 bronze medals. In the second edition of the Games held in Shillong, Meghalaya, Nagaland secured 79 medals, including 18 gold, 17 silver, and 44 bronze medals.

In this third edition, the Nagaland contingent performed remarkably, winning 48 gold, 42 silver, and 44 bronze medals, totaling 134 medals.

“The credit for this improvement goes to the athletes, who have all trained very hard and every medal is well deserved,” it said.

It noted that the awards of outstanding sportswoman and sportsman were both bagged by athletes from Nagaland—Tsuchoi T from athletics discipline won 4 gold medals and 2 silver medals in athletics, bagging the outstanding sportswoman award, and Venuzo Dawhuo won two gold medals in athletics and one gold in wrestling, thereby becoming the only athlete to win gold medals across different sports disciplines, and went on to be judged outstanding sportsman of the Games.

Maintaining that while there have been significant improvements in certain disciplines, there were some disappointing performances that fell below expectations, and there is always room for a lot of improvement.

In the North East Games 2024, Nagaland, in archery, earned 1 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals, totaling 7 medals. In athletics (senior), Nagaland clinched 24 medals, including 8 gold, 7 silver, and 9 bronze medals.

Badminton contributed 4 medals to Nagaland’s tally, with 2 silver and 2 bronze medals, while basketball secured 1 bronze medal.

In belt wrestling, Nagaland captured 6 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals, totaling 13 medals. In the ring, Nagaland’s boxers won 7 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze medals, amassing a total of 16 medals.

The freestyle wrestlers of Nagaland added to the medal haul with 3 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals, totaling 8 medals, while football contributed 1 bronze medal. Lawn tennis saw Nagaland’s athletes secure 3 silver and 2 bronze medals, totaling 5 medals.

Pencak Silat emerged as a forte for Nagaland, with the athletes clinching an impressive 17 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze medals, totaling 27 medals. In sepaktakraw, Nagaland secured 1 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze medal, totaling 6 medals.

Table tennis contributed 2 bronze medals to Nagaland’s tally, while taekwondo saw the athletes win 4 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals, totaling 12 medals.

Volleyball did not yield any medals for Nagaland in this edition of the games. Wushu brought home 1 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals for Nagaland, totaling 8 medals.