The Nagaland sepaktakraw team being felicitated on their
arrival in Nagaland. (EM Images)
DIMAPUR — The Nagaland sepaktakraw medal
winners at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 in Bihar were accorded a
warm welcome by the Chakhro Viswema Union, Dimapur District Sports Council,
Nagaland Sepaktakraw Association, and the Department of Youth Resources &
Sports, on their arrival at Dimapur Airport on Monday.
The sepaktakraw event at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG)
2025 was held from May 5 to 10 in Patna, Bihar, where the Nagaland sepaktakraw
team secured one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.
Interacting with media persons, head coach of the Nagaland
sepaktakraw team, Holshe Khrieo, expressed gratitude to the Department of Youth
Resources & Sports and well-wishers for their unwavering support.
Khrieo shared that at the KIYG 2025, the Nagaland sepaktakraw
girls’ team secured a gold medal in the doubles event, while the men’s team won
a silver medal in the regu event and two bronze medals in the quad and team
events.
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He also mentioned that, for the first time, the Nagaland
team defeated the Manipur team in the regu semi-final, but narrowly lost to
Delhi in a tie-breaker during the final, settling for the silver medal.
The head coach stated that the KIYG is a very important
event as it provides a platform to identify talented athletes in various
disciplines, with 1,000 athletes selected nationwide each year, who will
receive a scholarship of INR 5 lakh annually for eight consecutive years.
When asked whether any athletes from Nagaland have been
selected for the scholarship, Khrieo said that he is not aware of the exact
number but expressed hope that the sepaktakraw players from Nagaland will
benefit from the scheme.
He also added that the inclusion of a psychologist and
physiotherapist from the Nagaland sports department, who were part of the team
throughout the event, provided valuable support, greatly benefiting the
athletes.
A total of 18 players from Nagaland participated, with the
youngest, a 13-year-old boy serving as a substitute, gaining valuable exposure,
according to Khrieo.
He also mentioned that Nagaland sepaktakraw players have
actively participated in numerous national and international events, including
representing India in the Asian Games for four consecutive editions.
He further informed that the Nagaland sepaktakraw girls'
team will be participating in the Khelo India Youth Beach Games for
Sepaktakraw, which will be held in Diu (Gujarat) from May 19 to 24.
Regarding challenges faced by Nagaland sepaktakraw players,
the coach said that despite sepaktakraw being an indoor game, but due to the
lack of an indoor stadium in Nagaland, players are forced to train outdoors. He
expressed hope that the government will construct an indoor stadium soon.
Assistant coach of the Nagaland sepaktakraw team, Puleno
Neikha, mentioned that the team worked extremely hard and gave their best,
which led to securing medals in four events that the Nagaland team
participated.
