Kohima: The 50th sports meet of the Angami Sports Association (ASA), apex sport’s body of the Angami Naga tribe, is set to be held from February 14-19.
ASA President, Lhoubeizo Kesiyie, informed that the week-long annual sports meet will be conducted in four locations across Kohima–at IG Stadium, Indoor Stadium, Tsiesema ground, and Khuochiezie (Kohima local ground).
Addressing a press conference in Kohima on Wednesday, Kesiyie informed that around 600 contingents from its four units will be competiting in various sports disciplines.
The four units from the Angami areas affiliated with the Association are the Northern Angami Sports Association (NASA), Southern Angami Sports Association (SASA), Western Angami Youth Organization (WAYO) and Chakhroma Youth Organization (CYO).
The inaugural ceremony of the sports meet will be graced by Er Zale Neikha, Advisor for Youth Resources & Sports at the IG Stadium in Kohima. While the first two days will witness athletic competitions, the third and fourth day will witness competitions in football, volleyball and indoor games.
One of the main highlight of the sports meet- the Naga wrestling, will be conducted on the fifth day of the tournament. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio will grace the event as special guest at Khuochiezie. The sports meet will then conclude on February 19 following a valedictory function which will be graced by MLA Khriehu Liezietsu.
While the Association, which was formed in 1967, celebrated 50 years of its formation in 2017, the sports meet will only complete 50 years this year as it was not an annual event during the initial years of its formation.
Besides football (men), volleyball, sepak takraw, badminton, table tennis, and athletics, indigenous (traditional) games will like bamboo stilt walk, war cry, and folk song will be part of the competition.
The Naga Wrestling competition will be held for two categories—junior (Under 16) and senior (16 years above). A total of 60 wrestlers- 15 from each range, for the senior category and 40 wrestlers-10 each from each range, for the Under-16 category, will participate in the competition.
In the individual category for Wrestling (seniors), the winner will receive a cash amount of Rs 2,00,000 followed by Rs 1,20,000 for the second, Rs 80,000 for the third, Rs 50,000 for the fourth, and Rs 10,000 each for four quarterfinalists. The wrestler with the best tactic will receive an amount of Rs 10,000.
The group champion in the Wrestling senior category will receive Rs 1,20,000, followed by Rs 60,000 for the second, Rs 40,000 for the third, and Rs 25,000 for the fourth.
As for the individual prizes for the junior wrestling category, the winner will receive Rs 40,000, followed by Rs 30,000 for the second, Rs 20,000 for the third, Rs 10,000 for the fourth, and Rs 5,000 each for four quarter-finalists. The wrestler with the best tactic will receive an amount of Rs 5,000.
For the group prize, the winning team will receive Rs 20,000 while the second, third and fourth will receive Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively.
As for the overall champion of the sports meet, the team will receive a cash reward of Rs 1,00,000. Winners in the individual games will also be given cash reward.
Meanwhile, the Association appealed to the state government to provide assistance to sports associations. The sports body also urged to need to develop sports infrastructure across the state in order to promote sports and sportspersons.