Over 300 athletes from eight districts will compete in the first Nagaland Judo Championship in Mokokchung.
MOKOKCHUNG — The Nagaland Judo Association (NJA) announced on Thursday that the maiden edition of the Nagaland Judo Championship is scheduled to be held from September 10 to the 12th at Aden Academy in Mokokchung.
The event will be conducted on the theme "United by judo, driven by excellence."
Speaking at a press conference held at Aden Academy, NJA President I Temsu Jamir stated that more than 300 participants from eight districts are expected to take part. He informed that the championship is being fully self-sponsored by the association.
According to the NJA, the key objectives of the event include identifying talented athletes, providing competitive exposure, encouraging greater district-level participation, promoting women’s involvement in the sport, and building a stronger pathway for judokas aspiring to compete at the national level and beyond.
"The primary objective is to identify and nurture young talent from the grassroots so that Nagaland’s judo athletes can achieve success in national and international competitions," Jamir stated.
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Vice President and Tournament Convenor Rongsentoshi Jamir said the association aims to elevate the sport further. He added that the NJA aspires to host national-level tournaments in collaboration with the Judo Federation of India (JFI) in the future, with the goal of scouting promising talent for national and international arenas.
The championship is also intended to develop judo, which is a relatively new martial art in the state, by bringing together athletes from across Nagaland and creating a stronger competitive platform for the long-term growth of the sport, he said.
General Secretary and Tournament Director Somnath Chakraborty informed that the championship will feature 17 categories ranging from children aged six and above to seniors. These include divisions for children, sub-juniors, cadets, juniors, and seniors, with each age category having approximately six to seven weight divisions.
He further stated that the event will be officiated by trained referees from Nagaland, supported by two referees from West Bengal.