Football gold gives Nagaland fairytale ending

Secure 38 medals at the 2nd National Level North East Games A Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, MARCH 7 The state football team (men) on Monday provided the perfect story-book ending to Nagaland’s pursuit of glory at the 2nd edition of National Level North East Games by defeating Mizoram in the final staged at Imphal’s Khuman Lampak main stadium. This proved to be the final garnish to a campaign that has been decorated with 38 medals in total. A contingent of 118 players had represented Nagaland in the seven disciplines of Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Football, Judo, Table Tennis and Weightlifting at this year’s edition of the Games. In the men’s football final, the score line read 1-1 at regulation despite a dominant performance by the Nagaland players, according to Coach, Mughato Sumi. The contest was decided via a penalty shootout in which our boys outgunned Mizoram 5-4. They had reached the final by defeating host Manipur 3-2 on Saturday last. Nagaland had already registered an unprecedented achievement in senior level football of the region by fielding teams in the finals of both men and women categories at this year’s edition of the Games. Playing host Manipur, the perennial powerhouse, the state women’s football team suffered defeat by a margin of 5-0. Up till the final match, the eves had won all of their previous matches. Mostly comprised of players from the state academy, the girls were left with the herculean task of taking on a Manipur team filled with “at least 8-9 players” who have represented India at international tournaments. “Being in the final itself was an achievement,” as put by one of the coaches. Nagaland’s tally of 38 medals was third in the standings, behind champions Manipur and runner-up Mizoram. The tally includes 9 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 20 bronze medals. The contingent is scheduled to arrive Tuesday morning in Dimapur. The 2nd National Level North East Games in Imphal was started off on March 2 last and concluded on Monday. It was organized by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) scheme, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs.