Our Reporter
Dimapur, Sep. 17 (EMN): Nagaland Physique Alliance/ NPC Nagaland will host the first NPC (National Physique Committee) Nagaland state championship on October 18, at Covenant hall, Christian Higher Secondary School Dimapur.
This was announced during a press conference by Nagaland Physique Alliance/NPC Nagaland State Manager, Kimiyeto Agapeto on Saturday.
Stating that the National Physique Committee (NPC) is the world’s largest amateur bodybuilding federation, he said that it will be held for the first time in Nagaland’s history as the NPC has decided to come to Nagaland and hold the contest for bodybuilding and fitness contest here in Dimapur.
He went on to say that one of the reasons the NPC Nagaland was able to host this competition was because Naga athletes won the NPC nationals, including Neithongunuo Rio Achumi, who won gold at the 3rd NPC National Bodybuilding and Physique Championship this year.
The competition will be divided into four categories, men’s bodybuilding, men’s physique, classic bodybuilding, women in bikini, and each category will have its own rules and regulations based on height and weight, with total prize money of INR 1.5 lakh for the four categories.
Agapeto added that this competition is open to anyone who is an Indian citizen and there will be a lot of participation from mainland India as well.He informed that this NPC State Championship is a qualifier for the prestigious amateur Mr. Olympia, which will be held in Mumbai on October 28 to the 30th.
During the press conference, Agapeto stated that all of the premier and most successful bodybuilders were part of NPC, and for the first time, Naga athletes and young fitness enthusiasts with talent in building bodybuilding and fitness have the opportunity to compete and make it all the way to Mr. Olympia in the United States.
He stated that if Naga athletes want to compete with the best, they must compete in the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) pro league and the NPC league, and urged Naga athletes to take advantage of this opportunity as it will provide a lot of exposure and even a career in bodybuilding and fitness, adding that the NPC Nagaland will be there to guide them every step of the way.
Agapeto informed that India NPC Head, Hemant Angrish and National manager of NPC, Ankur as well as the international judges will be present at the event including IFBB pro judge, Som Tugnait, who will be head judge of this event.
He mentioned that as of now, they were expecting around 150 male participants from Nagaland. The registration fee is INR 2000 per participant as fixed by NPC India, he added.
One can register for the competition at www.indianphysiquealliance.in or www.amateurolympiaindia.com and live registration will also be held day before the event at Four Season Hotel Dimapur.
The State Mentor of NPC Nagaland, Pushpa Thatal, stated that this championship is not only for males but also for females, which is a great opportunity for women as the state receives very few opportunities of this kind. He stated that this is just an opening for many of them and encouraged all the women who are into fitness to be a part of it.
During the press conference, State Co-ordinator of NPC Nagaland, Bendangliba Longkumer stated that the best thing about NPC Nagaland is that there are lots brands that would sponsor the athletes and even groom them, adding that NPC is a more like a cooperate sector as even the official designation is structured in cooperate way.
Longkumer urged the athletes to go beyond their comfort zone and compete in the event.