Correspondent
Kohima, March 4
Atoto Kire astounded the anxiously awaiting wrestling lovers by lifting the champion’s title of 24th Nagaland Wrestling Championship organised by Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) at Khouciezie (Local Ground) here today.
Representing Angami Sports Association (ASA) from Kigwema village and standing tall at 6 feet with 85 kg weight, Kire defeated Vekuzo Vezüh to lift the coveted title and achieve his first title in arena after almost ten years of wrestling.
Kire made a good start since the group round in the morning as he earned full six months in the first round and was happily sitting back with confirmed entry into the individual round by virtue of getting bye in the second round as his opponent could not stand due to physical injury.In it was not an easy journey for Kire, as in the pre-quarter and quarter finals he had to wrestle against his own colleagues Rovilhoulie Pier and Visevo Zashümo, both third and fourth position holders of ASA Meet 2014 but managed to find his place into the semi-final.
In the semi-final standing against three of the Chakhesang Wrestling Association (CWA) wrestlers, he picked up chit No. 3 while his opponent was none other than the second position holder of CWA Meet 2014 Vevohü Swüro, who had knocked down former NWA champ (2010) Megosier Khate and reigning champ of ASA Meet 2014.
Playing the second final, Kire surprised the spectators with his swiftness in knocking down Vevüho in straight two rounds with the jam-packed crowd roaring up to cheers and thunderously applauding his placement into the final.
The final bout too apparently not tough as he pulled down Vekuzo Vezüh of CWA in for two consecutive round and directly knelt emotionally breaking down having achieved the goal he had been aspiring for all through this years.
Having won the first title, Atoto Kire will receive cash award of Rs. 2 lakh while runners-up Vekuzo Vezüh pockets Rs. 1.5 lakh, third place – Vevohü Swüro gets Rs. 1 lakh and fourth place - Thepukhoyi Swüro gets Rs 50,000.
The four quarter-finalists will also receive Rs. 10,000 each.
Meanwhile, in the group event Angami Sports Association (ASA) with a total of 151 points in the two rounds have emerged as the Group Champions and will receive Rs. 15,000 with a running trophy. Chakhesang Wrestling Association and Zeliang Wrestling Association got 132 and 24 points respectively.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio graced the inaugural function as the chief guest in the morning while Minister for Planning & Coordination, Geology & mining and Evaluation, T R Zeliang graced closing function of 24th Nagaland Wrestling Championship as the guest of honour.
The prizes to the winners will be distributed tomorrow afternoon with the completion of 9th Senior and 5th Junior Wrestling Tournament
