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The top four wrestlers of WASA wrestling meet along with the referee at Kohima local ground on January 25.[/caption]
Kohima, Jan. 25: Seketoukho Nipu knocked down veteran wrestler Zasevikho Meyatsu in the final to emerge as the champion at the 54th Western Angami Sports Association (WASA) wrestling meet held today at Kohima local ground.
27 year-old Seketoukho, son of Rokomekho Nipu from Sechüma village, lifted the coveted title from amongst 56 wrestlers who competed in the championship.
Seketoukho won the first bout; however, Zasevikho came back strong by winning the second. It was an exciting final match as both the players exhibited equal wrestling prowess and skills, however Seketoukho had the last laugh as he finally managed to overpower his opponent in the third and deciding bout.
It is worth mentioning that two brothers had created history by consecutively winning the title as it was just last year his younger brother Petekuolie Nipu lifted the WASA wrestling title.
29 year-old Zasevikho, who hails from Mezoma village, is the son of Methalhouvi Meyatsu. Mention may be made that the veteran wrestler, a former champion of Western Angami region, also won the title at the Angami Sports Association (ASA) wrestling meet in 2015. To his credit, he also bagged the 4th position at the Nagaland Wrestling Association meet in 2012. He was also a former champion of the Hornbill Naga wrestling championship and had won several titles at the annual Naga Wrestle Mania championship organized by 3E Nagaland.
Out of the many encounters the two wrestlers have had, this is the first time Seketoukho could manage to pull down the veteran wrestler Zasevikho. This is also the first time that Seketoukho emerged as the champion at a major wrestling event. In his wrestling career, he managed to win quite a few trophies, but has never claimed the top position. To mention a few, he bagged the third position at the King of the Ring Series championship (Naga Wrestle Mania) in 2013, while he was also placed third at the Hornbill Naga Wrestling Championship in 2015.
The WASA champion fetched a cash award of Rs. 60,000, while the 1st runner-up walked home richer with Rs. 40,000.
The third and fourth positions were bagged by Kekhriekolie Khawakhrie (23 yrs) of Mezoma village and Megovizo Visienyü (27 yrs) of Kiruphema village. They both received Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively.
Apart from the wrestlers who have made it through to the individual round including Er Mhasilhousie Nagi who lost in the pre-quarters, the other qualified wrestlers are Visedelhou Chüsi (Mezoma), Menokholie Senotsu (Jotsoma) Petekuolie Nipu (Sechü Zubza) Kevirielie Liegise and Thekrusevi Meru, both from Khonoma village.
The selected wrestlers will represent WASA at the forthcoming ASA wrestling meet 2017 scheduled on February 18 at Kohima local ground. The ASA sports meet will be held from February 14-18 at the same venue.
