Late Emi Shitiri tournament underway in Wokha

Our Correspondent
Wokha, Nov. 22 (EMN): The 6^th edition of Late Emi Shitiri memorial women’s football and volleyball open tournament kicked off on Tuesday at local ground, Wokha, with Liboni Humtsoe, director of rural development as the special guest.

The tournament is organised by Wokha District Women’s Sports Association (WDWSA).

The special guest in her address appreciated the organisers for their effort in giving limelight to women in exhibiting their skills and talents.

She said in the present generation, women are not lesser than men when it comes to talent even in sports and games. Humtsoe said platforms like the ongoing tournament would open doors for women sportspersons to get identified and further their skills.

Besides the oneness and love spread through sports, she also advised Lotha women to start hosting flower and vegetable festivals in the district, as the district is known as a ‘Land of Plenty’ and has the potential to organise such events.

Humtsoe further shared that players should cultivate discipline and exhibit their talents with true sportsperson spirit.

Guest of honour, R Chenio Yanthan, an entrepreneur and proprietor of Hill Rubber Enterprise, Dimapur, in his speech acknowledged the effort of WDWSA in organising the tournament stating that it requires good amount of planning including financial implications.

Six football teams and 14 volleyball teams are taking part in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the organisers informed that Late Emi Shitiri tournament if one of the first women's football tournaments in the state organised at the local level. The tourney is played after two years.

Women’s teams from various districts are taking part in the ongoing tourney.

During the inaugural ceremony programme, short greetings were delivered by Thungbeni Ngullie, president of Lotha Hoho, the family of Late Emi Shitiri and Libemo Jami, district sports officer and Youth Resource officer, Wokha.

In the opening football match, Indira Gandhi (IG) Stadium Academy, Kohima, beat Yangru team, Bhandari, by a solitary goal scored by Akhala.

In the two volleyball matches played on Tuesday, IG Kohima won the first match against the Yikhum team and Tsumang won the second match against Sparkle Club, Tuensang.