Middleweight & heavyweight clubbed as one category
KOHIMA, JULY 6: The wrestling fans from across the state will be assembling at Kohima Local ground once again to witness the fifth edition of the Naga WrestleMania (King of the Ring Series 2016).
The three-day event, being organized by 3E under the support of Nagaland Wresting Association (NWA), will commence on November 3 and culminate on 5.
The organizers have informed that there is a change in the weighting category. This year, the middleweight and heavyweight categories would be clubbed together as one category - heavyweight.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the organizers informed that the change has been necessitated by the ‘very low’ registration of heavyweight wrestlers in the past editions. There will be only two categories this year, lightweight category (74 Kg & below) and heavyweight category (Above 74 Kg).
The championship for the first series (Lightweight category) will be held on November 3, while the second series (Heavyweight category) has been scheduled the following day.
On November 5, there will also be a separate championship for junior wrestlers (14 years and below), while the King of The Ring championship would be held in the afternoon of the concluding day on November 5.
The best 48 wrestlers from the first and second series would be taking part in the final series.
The total cash award for this year’s championship has been fixed at Rs. 4, 59,000. The winner of the King of The Ring championship will fetch a cash award of Rs. 1, 20,000 along with the championship belt, while the runner-up will receive Rs. 60,000. The two losing semifinalists will be given Rs. 30,000 each.
While for heavyweight and lightweight categories, both the champions and runners-up will walk home richer with Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 30,000 respectively. The two losing semifinalists for both categories will receive Rs. 10,000 each, while the top winner will also be given the championship belt.
For juniors, the champion will be awarded Rs. 10,000 along with championship belt. The runner-up will receive Rs. 5,000, while the two losing semifinalists will be given Rs. 2000 each.
The organizers would start issuing the forms from August 1, however, the date of form submission will commence only from September 1.
The entry fee for heavyweight and lightweight wrestlers is Rs. 500 and Rs. 200 for junior wrestlers. The entry would be free for those wrestlers not belonging to wrestling community besides the Angami, Chakhesang, Zeliang and Poumai.
The forms are available at the Orchid Store, Razhü Point, Sportsworld, Taxi Stand and Tiara Restaurant at Kohima, Sharon Complex, Opp SBI at Chumukedima, Youth Snooker Café & Restaurant, Near Petrol Pump at Jalukie, Zupo Book House & Stationery at Chozuba, Life Centre, near Co-operative Bank at Pfutsero. The organizers also informed that a separate outlet for the Southern Nagas would be announced in due course of time.
The association also has informed that form submission will be done only in 3E Nagaland Office, 2nd Floor, Dzevi Building, Opposite UBC, near Local Ground North Gate at Kohima. The initial weight measurement would be recorded during the form submission, it was informed.
The organizers further informed that there will be other attractions for this year’s championship which will come in the form of a mega festival.
The three-day event will also celebrate the richness of Naga indigenous comprising ethnic food stalls, NagaWrestleMania merchandise stalls, live music, viewers contests, donors’ ticket raffle draw, giant screen display in stall area.
The post event ceremony includes prize distribution and inducting of NagaWrestleMania ‘Hall of Fame’ (Class of
2016). This will be held at a separate venue, it was informed.
During this ceremony, a photo magazine covering five glorious years of NagaWrestleMania (King of The Ring Series) will also be released.
The ticket for donors is fixed at Rs. 1000 (For three days and includes a raffle draw), while the entry tickets for chair and gallery (per day) is Rs. 100 and 50 respectively.
