If Nagaland truly wishes to see its wrestlers standing among the best in the country, we must build not just events that draw spectators, but systems that produce champions
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The Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger" is ultimately measured on the podium. A popular saying captures this truth: “In the Olympic Games, it is the podiums that matter, and not the crowd.” While a massive audience is a testament to a sport’s cultural power, true athletic success on the world stage is defined by medals, podiums, and internationally recognised competition.
This distinction was sharply highlighted at the recently concluded 30th Naga Traditional Wrestling Championship, organised by the Nagaland Wrestling Association. Once again, the tournament drew a massive, electrifying crowd, a powerful testament to the deep love and emotional connection the Naga people have for their traditional sport. The cheering spectators, the intense group rivalries, and the atmosphere of celebration all underscored that wrestling is not just a game in Nagaland; it is a pillar of its social and cultural identity.
However, while this popularity is commendable and culturally vital, it does not automatically build a pathway to national or international glory. The hard truth is that traditional Naga wrestling, for all its passion and intensity, operates outside the competitive framework recognised by global sports bodies. Unlike Olympic disciplines such as freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, it is not governed by the rules or structures of the Wrestling Federation of India or United World Wrestling. Consequently, a champion crowned in a Naga wrestling arena, no matter how skilled, currently has no route to represent the state or the nation at the National Championships, the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, or the Olympic Games.
In the modern sporting ecosystem, recognition does not come from the number of spectators in a stadium, but from the number of athletes who can ascend the medal podium. Podium finishes are the product of years of systematic training, scientific coaching, and participation in a structured calendar of recognised national and international events. They are the true currency of sporting progress.
The massive turnout at the 30th championship, therefore, presents us with a paradox. It is a vibrant display of cultural vitality, yet it also illuminates a strategic gap in our sports development. When athletic talent remains confined to traditional formats that are not part of the global structure, we risk denying our gifted youth the opportunity to progress beyond local fame. Without a parallel focus on Olympic-style disciplines, the dream of producing medal-winning wrestlers for the country will remain distant.
This is not a call to abandon our heritage. On the contrary, traditional wrestling must be preserved and celebrated as a priceless part of Naga identity. But preservation and ambition should not be mutually exclusive. We need a balanced, two-pronged approach: one that honours our traditions, and another that builds a competitive future.
In this regard, the Nagaland Wrestling Association, in collaboration with the Nagaland Olympic Association and the state government, has a crucial role to play. While traditional tournaments continue to inspire community pride, we must simultaneously invest in structured, scientific programmes for freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. This is the only way to create a genuine pathway for our athletes to compete on the national and international stage.
Ultimately, the lesson is clear. A roaring crowd can celebrate a moment, but a podium finish creates history that inspires generations. If Nagaland truly wishes to see its wrestlers standing among the best in the country, and perhaps one day on the Olympic podium, we must gradually shift our focus. We must build not just events that draw spectators, but systems that produce champions.
K. Puroh
(The author is a former athlete and recipient of the Best Athlete award (1974 and 1975) at the Inter-Collegiate Meet, NEHU. He ranked sixth in decathlon at the All-India Inter-University Meet in 1976. He served as President of the Nagaland Wrestling Association from 1992 to 2000, Joint Secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India from 2002 to 2006, and Vice President of the WFI from 2006 to 2010. He also led Indian Contingent as Manager, at the XXVIII Trofeo Milone Greco Roman Wrestling, 1st Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Rome, Italy, in 2008. Views expressed are personal)