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A match in progress on the first day of the 1st Nizheto Awomi Memorial Table Tennis Championship in the TT Indoor Stadium on April 25 in Kohima. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, April 25 (EMN): The first edition of a local table tennis event called the 'Nizheto Awomi Memorial Table Tennis Championship' commenced on Wednesday in the TT Indoor Stadium in Kohima.
The three-day tournament, which will conclude on April 27, is being organised by a group called the Quasar Club, in collaboration with the Kohima District Table Tennis Association (KDTTA).
-eight players including six women are taking part in the championship. 25 players will be competing in the men’s category, while 17 are in the youth boys championship.
Rato Pusa, additional director for Youth Resources and Sports, addressed the inaugural event . In his address, Pusa spoke about the need to promote indoor games, particularly badminton and table tennis. He felt that they 'suited' the 'physique of the Nagas.' He said that people of the mongoloid race capture 'almost all the medals in table tennis and badminton events' during the Olympic Games.
Pusa said also that the chief minister (Neiphiu Rio) was serious in promoting games and sports. He urged the sportspersons to give their best to achieving their best. He urged the organisers to organise similar tournaments in the remote districts even, particularly for the non-performing districts in the field of sports. Except for Kohima, Dimapur, and for Mokokchung, he said the other districts were yet to 'shine' in the field of sports.