Eight teams compete in Mokokchung’s Luke Sasong Memorial Volleyball Trophy as Advisor Yimkhiung urges year-round training for athletes
MOKOKCHUNG — The 14th Luke Sasong Memorial Volleyball Trophy 2026 got underway at the Multi-Purpose Indoor Stadium in Mokokchung on Wednesday, with eight teams competing for the title.
Advisor for Youth Resources and Sports, S Keoshu Yimkhiung, was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony organised by the Luke Sasong Sporting Association under the aegis of Mangmetong Students’ Union. The three-day tournament will conclude on September 18.
Addressing the gathering, Yimkhiung urged sporting associations, local bodies and students’ organisations to focus on year-round training rather than limiting activities to tournaments and memorial events.
He said Nagaland has considerable sporting talent and that sustained training and regular competition could help young athletes progress to higher levels. He also stressed the importance of identifying and nurturing talent at the appropriate age.
Recalling the popularity of volleyball in Nagaland during the late 1990s, Yimkhiung referred to the All Nagaland Volleyball Tournament held around 1997–99, when teams from Guwahati, Shillong and Manipur participated. He recalled Longsa Sporting Association of Mokokchung defeating teams from outside the state, including a Shillong side, through strong teamwork despite their physical and attacking advantages.
He said such performances had helped raise the profile of volleyball in Mokokchung and could be revived through consistent training and participation.
Yimkhiung also highlighted opportunities available through the Sports Department and Khelo India programmes, including academies and talent-identification initiatives in disciplines such as archery, athletics, sepaktakraw, badminton and football.
The eight teams have been divided into two pools.
Pool A: MH-10 Kohima, Ever Green Club Ungma, Savage Setters Volleyball Club Chungtia and Twin Brothers.
Pool B: Changtongya Volleyball Association, Pangti Volleyball Team, United Brothers Chakpa and Longsa Sporting Association.
In the opening matches, defending champions MH-10 Kohima recovered from a first-set loss to beat Ever Green Club, Ungma 20–25, 25–20, 25–15.
Changtongya Volleyball Association defeated Pangti Volleyball Team 25–17, 25–16, while Savage Setters Volleyball Club, Chungtia beat Twin Brothers 25–16, 25–16.
In the final match of the day, Longsa Sporting Association edged United Brothers, Chakpa 25–22, 25–9.