Kumlong clinches 4th Mokokchung inter-ward volleyball title

MOKOKCHUNG — Kumlong Ward narrowly outlasted Mongsenbai Ward in a nail-biting finale to claim the 4th Mokokchung Town Inter-Ward Volleyball Tournament at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, Mokokchung, on October 10.

The pulsating match kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, with Kumlong Ward edging past Mongsenbai Ward in a five-set thriller: 25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 23-25, 17-15.

Both teams traded blows early on, knotted at 15-15 in the opening set. Mongsenbai’s timeout backfired, allowing Kumlong to seize the first set 25-20. The second set saw Mongsenbai strike back, claiming it 25-19 after Kumlong’s timeout failed to check their momentum.

Also read: 4th Mokokchung Town Inter-Ward Volleyball Tournament begins

In the third set, Kumlong regained control, holding firm at 14-14 before executing exceptional coordination to secure a 25-20 win and a 2-1 lead. The fourth set turned into a thrilling back-and-forth, with Mongsenbai tying at 23-23 and eventually winning 25-23, forcing a deciding fifth set.

The final set was pure drama. Early serving errors by Mongsenbai gave Kumlong an 8-3 lead, but the opposition clawed back to 15-15. Ultimately, Kumlong’s composure prevailed, sealing a 17-15 victory amid cheers and pandemonium.

Kumlong claimed the championship and an INR 50,000 prize, while runners-up Mongsenbai pocketed INR 30,000. Individual awards went to Aongsen (Kumlong) as Best Setter, Imtirenba (Kumlong) as Best Spiker, and Mongsenbai’s Bendangmeren as Player of the Tournament.

Guest of Honour Chutsusie Thowachu, Executive Engineer of Mokokchung’s Electrical Division, lauded the event as more than competition, calling it a “celebration of teamwork and relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Dr. Imlinichet Imchen, Organising Committee Convener, announced that the tournament will now be held biennially, with the next edition set for 2027.