Nagaland hosts first-ever national tug of war team trials for world championship

Published on Jun 11, 2025

KOHIMA — For the first time in Nagaland, the Indian team selection trial for the World Tug of War Championship—scheduled to be held in Nottingham, England from September 4 to 7—kicked off on Wednesday at the 13 Assam Rifles Kohima Battalion ground.

The two-day selection trial is being jointly organised by the Tug of War Federation of India (TWFI) and the Nagaland Tug of War Association (NTWA). The trials are being conducted for the senior men’s, women’s, and mixed (4+4) categories.
Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso, Hari Shankar, and officials along with the 13 Assam Rifles and Nagaland teams before the demonstration match.
According to the organisers, a total of 34 participants—17 from Nagaland (13 men and 4 women) and 17 from other states including Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Pondicherry—are taking part in the trials.
Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso, MLA, who graced the event, highlighted that tug of war is one of the oldest known games, symbolising both unity and strength. He expressed confidence that with proper training and coaching, the athletes will go on to represent India with distinction. He further hoped that the event would pave the way for local players to grow and that the sport would foster camaraderie among participants.
Colonel Tarun Rana, president of NTWA, emphasised that tug of war is not merely a game but a strategic sport requiring teamwork and discipline. He expressed optimism that the final selected team will represent the country with integrity and true sportsmanship at the world event.

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TWFI president Hari Shankar stated that four Indian teams are being considered for participation at the global event, including one from Nagaland. He stressed that although tug of war is commonly played in schools and villages as a recreational activity, it is in fact a challenging and technical sport.
He further informed that the federation operates in all Indian states and annually organises 6–7 national championships along with 2–3 international tournaments. The sport, he noted, is recognised under the central and state government sports quota systems, offering players the potential for government job opportunities.