Our correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 9 (EMN): Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) has announced that it will conduct the 1st state-level selection for national free-style and belt wrestling championship on October 18 at Khesoh’s Grappling Academy, Grace Higher Secondary School, Bayavü, Kohima. The selection will be conducted for the upcoming national free-style wrestling championship scheduled at Jalandhar, Punjab, from November 28 to the 30th and belt wrestling championship at Hyderabad, Telengana, from November 21 to the 24th.
This was informed during a press conference on Wednesday by Neivikuolie Khatsü, president of Nagaland Wrestling Association, at NWA office.
Categories for belt wrestling championship included players from 16-17 years, junior from 18-19 years and senior. They are further categorised from 42 kg, 47 kg and 53 kg for boys and 38 kg, 42 kg, and 46 kg for girls. In the junior category, players would be categorised from 54 kg, 59 kg and 65 kg for boys and 45 kg, 50 kg and 56 kg for girls, while senior it has been categorised as 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg and above 86 kg for men and 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg and 69 kg for women.
The categories for free style wrestling championship included 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg and above 97 kg for men and 50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg for women.
Khatsü commented that any wrestlers who want to participate from across the state are welcomed adding only the best would be selected for competing at the national level.
“Nagaland wrestling Association is always looking for avenues where we can create platform for wrestling lovers and make it their profession,” he stated. He also announced that Naga wrestling would be introduced for the first time in Niathu sports festival organised by Niathu group.
The wrestling is scheduled to be conducted on October 25 with promising prizes for 1st, 2nd and the two finalists. Entry form would be available with the president and general secretary of Nagaland wrestling association at registration fee of INR 1000.
He further stated 3-4 Uzbekistan wrestlers have confirmed their participation in the upcoming 13th International Hornbill Naga wrestling championship.
Khatsü also declared that the 27th NWA meet is scheduled to be conducted on March 5-6 of 2020.
The association has also announced to introduce 16 years and below championship during the 27th NWA meet. He informed that wrestlers born earlier than April 2004 will not be accepted and only aadhar card and school cumulative record book would be considered for age proof.
He further informed that each unit could send only 12 wrestlers and it is open to all the tribes of Nagaland. The mode of competition would be as per the rules and regulations of NWA, he added.
He also updated that NWA would be celebrating their 50th year of formation during the 27th meet. He stated that it would be celebrated in a grand way together with the past office bearers. He also stated that “wrestling activity in the form of a book will be launched before celebration.”
