15th Nagaland Wrestling Association’s Open Championship on Friday

• Event to co-host first women’s open Naga Wrestling Championship
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  The main arena for the 15th NWA Open and 1st Women’s Open Naga Wrestling Championship at Khouchiezhie, Kohima. (EM Images)

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• KOHIMA — The stage is set for the much-anticipated Nagaland Wrestling Association’s (NWA) 15th Open Championship, which will also debut the first women’s open Naga Wrestling Championship event, at Kohima local ground (Khouchiezhie), on March 28.
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• As many as 129 contenders — 100 men and 29 women wrestlers — from ten tribes of Nagaland will contest for a total prize money of close to INR ten lakh.
• The wrestling matches will begin at 8:30 am, followed by the inaugural programme at 11am.
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• What makes this year’s wrestling event interesting is the participation of more tribes, including Chakhesang, Angami, Zeliang, Phom, Sumi, Ao, Lotha, Pochury, Rengma, and Chang, besides the debut of the women’s event.
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• Prominent wrestlers in the fray are defending champion Venuzo Dawhuo and 29th Naga Wrestling Championship defending champion, Kezhaseluo-o Pienyu.
• The winners of various categories will be awarded cash prizes and medals.
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• The champion of the men’s open category will receive INR 2 lakh, while the second position holder will take home INR 1 lakh, and the semi-finalists will receive INR 50,000 each.

Also read: Nagaland Wrestling Association to host 15th Open Championship and first women’s wrestling event

• For men’s below 90 kg category, the champion will receive INR 1 lakh, runner-up INR 50,000, and semi-finalists INR 25,000 each.
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• For men’s below 75 kg category, the champion will get INR 1 lakh, runner-up INR 50,000, and semi-finalists INR 25,000 each.
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• Meanwhile, for women’s 60 kg and above category, the champion will take home INR 50,000, second-place finisher INR 25,000, and the semi-finalists INR 10,000 each.
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• For women’s below 60 kg category, the champion will receive INR 50,000, runner-up INR 25,000, and semi-finalists INR 10,000 each.
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• Minister for PHED and Cooperation, Jacob Zhimomi, will attend the event as the special guest, while Chingmak Chang, president of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), will attend as the honoured guest.