Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 18
In a prelude to its 25th tournament anniversary slated to be held in March 2016, the Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) will be organizing a pre-celebration event on November 7 at Phezhu (Jotsoma), the grounds where the first ever recorded wrestling play-offs was held in Nagaland.
This was announced by the NWA officials at a press conference Sunday evening at Hotel Vivor, Kohima. NWA president, Neikhrolo Khalo who is also the vice president Wrestling Federation of India, informed that though “friendly matches” of wrestling were said to be organized as early as the late 1930s in the state, a more well-ordered competition was recorded to have been held at Phezhu, Jotsoma in 1966 organized by the Federal Government of Nagaland. But, he highlighted, the official fight for championship began in 1972 under the aegis of NWA which was earlier called the Nagaland Wrestling Board when it was initially launched in 1969.
The Nagaland Wrestling Championship, also called as the ‘NWA Tournament’ is held every alternate year and the association is set to observe the 25th NWA Tournament Anniversary in March 2016.
Going by the records, the occasion will also coincide with the 50th year mark of the 1966 Phezhu event. In this connection, the NWA officials informed that both occasions will be commemorated in 2016 and the pre-celebration event next month will seek to rejuvenate and refresh minds for the main celebratory tournament. They said a traditional commemorative monolith will be erected during the pre-celebration which is going to be hosted by the Jotsoma Village Sports Association. The event will be graced by the minister for Social Security & Welfare, Kiyaneilie Peseyie.
The NWA has extended its invitation to all the former champions of the Nagaland Wrestling Championship, Nagaland Open Wrestling tournament and Hornbill Wrestling Championship, all position holders, former NWA office bearers, former and present Tenyimia legislators and HoDs and well wishers to attend the pre celebrations on November 7 at RCEMPA, Jotsoma.
Mention may be made here that the NWA Nagaland Wrestling Championship is the highest level wrestling tournament in the state. The tournament is a clash of the best amongst the bests from the affiliated units of NWA from the districts of Kohima, Phek, Dimapur and Peren districts. A wrestler participating in the NWA Championship is accorded high respect by the peers and the people in general as they are selected for the main tournament through multiple qualifying play-offs starting from the clan/khel- village – range- tribe- district then to the state level.
The association officials have informed that the 25th NWA Tournament Anniversary 2016 champion will likely fetch a cash prize of Rs.5,00,000. However they said this will be a one-time enhancement for the anniversary year only.
The traditional Naga Style wrestling is one of the oldest indigenous games that is still popularly played and religiously followed by many Nagas, both old and young alike. This form of wrestling is mainly practised by the Tenyimi tribes of Nagaland but has gained much ground in terms of popularity with other Naga tribes as well as professional wrestlers from outside the state.
Meanwhile, the NWA, which is an affiliate body of the Nagaland Olympic Association and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has invited all the district sports association bodies who are yet to get affiliated with NWA, to organize and get affiliation. Association members are of the view that most Naga tribes have their own traditional wrestling and as such, they feel that non-Tenyimi tribes who are familiar with the free-style (Greco-Roman) form of wrestling can easily catch up with the Naga Style. They also informed that the NWA conducts coaching camps at the wrestling academy at IG Stadium Kohima.
Besides the president, other members who were present at the press meet on Sunday included the vice president Neivikuolie Khatsu, joint secretary Mosonyi Domeh, treasurer Pfudolhou Kense, women coordinators Lamsi Hegui and Akhale Wetsah and property secretary Mitwatei Zeliang.
