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Winners of the 12th Naga Open Wrestling Meet 2019 along with the officials of the tournament at the Kohima local ground on March 7.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 7 (EMN): Menuosetuo Yiese, the reigning champion of the International Hornbill Naga Wrestling Championship 2018, defeated Venuzo Dawhuo in the final to win the 12th Open Naga Wrestling 2019 held at Kohima local ground on March 7.
The 20-year-old from Kohima village walked away with INR 2 lakh along with a citation for winning the championship title, while first runner-up Venuzo Dawhuo of Thenyizumi village in Phek district won INR 1.50 lakh.
Rung Lian Ceu from the US defeated Vekuyi Medeo of Phusachodu village to win the second runner-up title that came with INR 1 lakh cash award. He also won INR 10,000 after he was voted as the wrestler with best tactics. It may be mentioned that he defeated the reigning champion of the open Naga wrestling Dzieselatuo Keretsu in the quarter final.
Semi-finalist Medeo walked away with INR 70,000, while quarter-finalists -- Kekhriezo Nagi, Vekutho Soho, Keneiselie Khawakhrie, Seluokuolie Kire -- received INR 10,000 each.
A total of 62 wrestlers, including three from Myanmar, two from Jharkhand and one from the US participated competed in the tournament after five wrestlers opted out due to injury.
The 12th Open Naga Wrestling 2019 was organised by the Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA), hosted by Angami Sports’ Association (ASA) and managed by Botsa Baptist Church.
Nagaland Khadi and Village Industries Board chairman Dr. Neiphrezo Keditsu, quest of honour for the closing ceremony, gave away the prizes to the winners. He sought for more participation from the people in order to promote the game all over the world.
It may be mentioned that Minister for Higher and Technical Education Temjen Imna Along was the special guest at the inaugural ceremony. All India Traditional Wrestling and Pankration Federation (AITWPF) secretary-general Shailendra Kumar Pathak released NWA journal volume 2 and unfurled the flag of the 12th Naga Open Wrestling Meet 2019.
