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Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 9 (EMN): Venuzo Dawhou did it again as he claimed the Open Naga Wrestling Championship title for the second time after he was crowned winner of the 13th open Naga Wrestling Championship 2021 held at Khuochiezie in Kohima on Friday.
He won the title in 2015 too.
Dawhou, who is also the reigning champion of Nagaland Wrestling Association 2020, defeated former champion Dzieselatuo Keretsü in the final to walk away with the cash prize of INR 1,70,000. Keretsü received INR 1,20,000 for the first runner-up title.
Meanwhile, reigning champion of 12th Open Naga Wrestling Championship 2019, Menuosetuo Yiese, slipped to third place after he lost to Dawhou in the semi-final. He received INR 1,00,000, while the third runner-up Kevizhakho Suokhrie was awarded with INR 70,000.
The 13th Open Naga Wrestling Championship 2021 was organised by the Naga Wrestling Association, hosted by Chakhesang Wrestling Association and managed by the Christian Revival Churches Association.
Altogether, 86 wrestlers participated in both above and below 80 kg categories.
In above 80 kg category, Venuzo Dawhou emerged as the winner and Dzieselatuo Keretsü came in the second, while Menuosetuo Yiese claimed thethird place and Atuo Tevo, fourth.
In 80 kg below category, Kevizhakho Suokhrie claimed the title after he put down Medozho Kapü in the final bout. Ruokuovituo Lese and Kelhriekuolie Khawakhrie stood in the third and fourth positions respectively.
It may be mentioned that two wrestlers from communities other than Tenyimi -- Yimküm Sashi Walling from Mokokchung district and Thechamo N Murry from Wokha -- participated this time in the below 80 kg category.
Speaking during the inaugural programme, the advisor for Youth Resources and Sports, Zale Neikha, lamented that Nagas despite having many talents, still lack behind other states in many fields.
One of the drawbacks is the absence of having a common dialect or language while on the other, till date Nagas don't have a common game to be called “Naga Traditional Game"; for this reason, the state could not include any traditional game under 'Khelo India State Centre of Excellence' unlike neighbouring state of Manipur, he said.
Naga Wrestling was one of the oldest traditional games practiced since time immemorial but only three tribes -- Angami, Chakhesang and Zeliang -- are affiliated to NWA. Unless an effort is made to introduce wrestling to other tribes, the concept of making wrestling a common Naga traditional game is a far cry, the advisor added.
While appreciating the initiatives and efforts of the NWA in trying to popularise the sport, Neikha appealed to the association to visualise the prospect of bringing other tribes into the fold of wrestling.
The advisor was of the opinion that conducting coaching camps in other districts of the state will have an impact to gather support of other tribes, thereby making wrestling a common Naga traditional game a reality.
The PDA government and the department of Youth Resources and Sports will try to assist the association if the NWA undertake the coaching camps in every district for promotion of Naga wrestling game as a common Naga traditional game, he added.
Minister for Planning and Co-ordination, Land Revenue, and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu, said that the sport is getting popular day by day. Nagaland state under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also the president of Nagaland Olympic Association, is trying to encourage sportspersons. In line with that, state government is trying to create a sports office complex located in Kohima so that the state would be able to compete with the national and international in every discipline.