Dimapur, Jan. 31 (EMN): The 27th senior and 2nd under-16 wrestling meet 2022 of the Phek Area Wrestling Association (PAWA) is set to begin at local ground Phek town on Feb. 1.
Hectic preparations are underway for setting up of the temporary makeshift gallery, seat arrangements and decorations managed by the Phek Village Baptist Church, an update informed.
A total of 46 wrestlers in the senior category and 18 U-16 wrestlers will be competing for the championship including defending champion Vekuzo Vezuh and other prominent wrestlers.
The champion of the senior category will walk home with a cash prize of INR 90,000, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th place, who will receive INR 70,000, INR 50,000 and INR 40,000 respectively.
For the U-16 category, the champ will be awarded with INR 20,000, while the second, third and fourth will receive INR 15,000, INR 10,000 and INR 7000 respectively. INR 3000 has also been set for the quarter finalists.
The inaugural program will begin at 9 am onwards with MLA Küzholüzo Nienu as the special guest and MLA Yitachu as the guest of honour. Hükhoneyi Soho, convenor of Nagaland Wrestling Referee Board will be the chief referee, it informed.
Meanwhile, the organising committee also informed that they are expecting around 15,000 spectators for the wrestling meet. In this regard, the committee has appealed to all the spectators to strictly follow the SOPs and follow all directives of the government for the safety of the general public.