Nagaland Wrestling Association Championship from today

Our Correspondent

Kohima, March 9 (EMN): The 27th Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) Championship and the 1st U-16 Naga Wrestling is all set to begin at 9:30 am on Tuesday at Khuochiezie local ground in Kohima.

Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio will attend the tournament which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) existence as the special guest while MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu will be the inaugural guest. 

The two-day mega wrestling tournament will feature top 90 wrestlers from Angami, Chakhesang and Zeliang tribe.

54 wrestlers will vie for the senior category while 36 will vie for the junior category.

The champion in senior division will receive INR 3,00,000 along with Lt. Velahu Puro Memorial Trophy and cash prize of INR 30,000 while the runner-up will receive INR 2,00,000 with citations.

The third and fourth positions will fetch a sum of INR 1,00,000 and 80,000 respectively. Each quarterfinalist will get INR 20,000 while all the participants will receive INR 3,000 each.

Under junior category scheduled to take place on March 11, the champion will walk away with INR 50,000 while the second, third and fourth position winners will receive INR 30,000, INR 20,000 and INR 15,000 respectively.

All the participants will get INR 2,000 each while the NWA will provide all the quarterfinalists who are studying with scholarship of INR 1,000 each per month for one year.

President of NWA, Neivikuolie Khatsu have extended invitation and welcomed guests, spectators and all wrestling fraternity members to the wrestling festivity.

The tickets for patrons (admit two) have been priced at INR 10,000, donors – INR 3,000, chair (front row) – INR 1000, chair (behind) INR 500 and 100 for the gallery.

Fans can avail live TV streaming online video channel on YouTube with pay and watch facility.

Entry of foreign nationals, domestic tourists and locals to be monitored

With the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) fear gripping the world, foreigners who have been restricted by the Government of India (GoI) will not be allowed to witness the 27th Nagaland Wrestling Association Championship, the much-hyped Naga style wrestling scheduled to take place at Khuochiezie local ground in Kohima from March 10 to the 11th. 

Allaying concern over the outbreak of coronavirus all over the world, Neivikuolie Khatsu, president of Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) said this during a press conference amidst hectic preparations of the mega wrestling tournament at the venue on Monday.

Foreigners and mainland India or any traveller from the state with travel history from COVID 19 affected states and countries are advised to get medical fitness certificate from competent authority in case they want to come and witness. Tourist coming to witness the tournament without medical fitness certificate will be restricted, NWA informed.

Khatsu also asked those locals who have returned recently from COVID-19 affected countries and states to remain indoors.

As there there would huge turnout for the championship, Khatsu advised the spectators to refrain from shaking hands as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 following the instruction of the prime minister.

The president also requested the spectators to maintain decency and calmness during the tournament. Pay and watch facility will be made available for live TV online.

Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio will attend the tournament as the special guest while MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu will be the inaugural guest. The meet will commence by 9:30 am onwards.