Dimapur, June 7 (EMN): Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) felicitated the winners of the 1st All India Traditional Wrestling and Pankration Federation (AITWPF) Cup at the Nagaland Olympic Association Complex Kohima on June 6.
The championship was held at Raipur in Chhattisgarh from May 12 to the 15th.
Secretary-General, Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) and Associate Vice President, Athletics Federation India (AFI), Abu Metha congratulated the Nagaland wrestlers and the NWA for bringing laurels to the state and winning the third position during AITWPF Federation Cup, an update stated.
It stated that through the detailed reports from the team officials about the challenges the participants faced in other states and countries, Metha felt that they need to introspect and look back on how they have performed and to do better in the future.
It stated that Metha emphasised that every Naga citizen especially in areas where wrestling is played is a stakeholder in wrestling and the real stakeholders of wrestling are the rural Naga population.
Abu Metha called upon the players and the officials to implement their learning by teaching others, which can make the Nagas rise and excel in sports. He also told the players that with the prize money they have won, they can hire better coaches to be trained and become recognised international champions, and to the officials he called upon them to document Naga wrestling as a sport to expose it to the world.
Information & Publicity Secretary, NWA & Team leader, C Theyo gave a report on the team's participation in the 1st AITWPF, Federation Cup. He said Nagaland team comprising 15 players from Kohima and Phek , won 21 medals altogether and won the third position in group championship.
Advisor, NWA & Vice President, AITWPF, Mosonyi Domeh also said Naga wrestling should be imparted to children as a sports curriculum in schools and promote the sport by inviting wrestlers from other countries to participate during the yearly Hornbill Festivals. He also called upon the wrestlers to strive and struggle to become professional wrestlers and not be seasonal wrestlers.