Nagaland steps into the national football arena with Dr. T Ao girls championship

DIMAPUR — Nagaland marked a historic sporting milestone on Saturday as the Dr. T Ao Junior Girls National Football Championship 2025–26 (Tier-II) kicked off at the Chümoukedima Football Stadium, becoming the first national football tournament ever hosted in the state.

The event, described as a landmark moment for Nagaland and women’s football in the country, also celebrates the legacy of Dr. Talimeren Ao—the first captain of independent India’s football team at the 1948 London Olympics and one of the state’s most revered sporting icons.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who declared the tournament open, said that the championship was not only a tribute to Dr. T Ao but also a recognition of Nagaland’s growing capability to host major national sporting events.

He termed the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) decision to name the championship after Dr. T Ao as a “fitting and long-overdue recognition” of his contribution to Indian football.

Also read: Historic first: Nagaland hosts Dr. T Ao junior girls championship

Rio said that the milestone was made possible by the sustained commitment of the state government and the Nagaland Football Association, whose groundwork helped bring the national tournament to the state for the first time.

From this season onwards, he announced, the competition will officially be known as the Dr. Talimeren Ao Junior Girls National Football Championship—a historic occasion for Nagaland, as it is the first national sporting competition named after a Naga figure.

Underscoring the broader significance of the event, the chief minister said that the championship shines a spotlight on the progress of women’s football in India.

Young women athletes today demonstrate strength, confidence and the aspiration to lead India’s sporting future, he said, adding that their rise reflects how far the country has come in building a society rooted in equality, opportunity and empowerment.

He added that as India works towards the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, sports will play a critical role in unifying the nation. “Sport teaches teamwork, discipline and resilience. It breaks barriers of region, language and community and binds us together as one country.”

Calling the tournament “a stage of dreams,” Rio said that each match would reveal stories of grit and determination, and perhaps even the future stars of Indian football. “This platform is more than competition—it is where friendships are formed, aspirations take shape, and champions are discovered,” he said.

The chief minister expressed hope that hosting the championship would pave the way for more national and international sporting events in Nagaland and accelerate the state’s push for sporting infrastructure and capacity-building.

Addressing the players, Rio urged them to compete with integrity. “Play with passion, respect and courage. Win or lose, what matters most is the spirit you bring to the field.”

He extended gratitude to the AIFF for entrusting Nagaland with the championship and encouraged the public to join in celebrating both the sport and India’s diverse cultural vibrancy.

The championship features 13 teams divided into four groups: Uttar Pradesh and Tripura in Group A; Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar, Punjab and host state Nagaland in Group B; Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh in Group C; and Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh in Group D.

Players aged 13 to 16 will compete in league-format group matches, followed by the semifinals and the final scheduled for December 11.

Teams and officials arrived in the state a week ahead of the opening to acclimatise, as all matches will be played at the Chümoukedima Football Stadium located inside the Police Complex.

This year’s edition has been widely described as “historic,” drawing around 312 players and 24 officials, including referees, assessors and technical staff.

Spectators can watch the matches live on the Dr. T. Ao Trophy YouTube channel and SportsCast India, while entry on opening day was free for the public.