Our Reporter
Dimapur, April 14(EMN): The 1st inter tribes badminton tournament organised by the Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur (TSUD) commenced on Wednesday at State Stadium in Dimapur.
The tournament is being organised on the theme “oneness through sports”.
The tournament has four categories; men’s single, men’s double, women’s single and women’s double.
It was informed that it was an open tournament and altogether 86 players had registered for the tournament. The finance secretary of TSUD Pechesin Bukh informed that there were 57 teams with 16 teams for men’s single, 22 teams for men’s double, 12 teams for women’s single and seven teams for women’s double.
The prize money for the winner and runner-up are INR 15,000 and INR 10,000 for men’s and women’s double and INR 10,000 and INR 5,000 for men’s and women’s single category. The tournament will culminate on April 15.
Johnny Ruangmei, OSD, NSDMA was the special guest of the opening programme. Speaking during the event, he said that sports had many values; and one of the values was the economic impact on the community. He also encouraged the youngsters that it was time to change what was inside the Nagas, stating that “we need to change our ideas and bring something that fits us”.
“These days we are living amidst confusion and we are engaged in ourselves for supremacy,” he cited. He stated that we need to advocate for inclusive Nagas.
Rosemary Dzuvichu, advisor of Naga Mothers’ Association and president CRC, NUTA, in her solidarity speech stated that in the midst of so many divisions created by elders and leaders, it was encouraging to see the TSUD maintain relations with different organisation and tribes in Dimapur.
“Let us look beyond the boundaries and borders of our petite village lives and mindsets, and put the Nagas as one,” she said.
“To the younger generation of Nagas we would like to convey our serious concerns that you are the leaders of tomorrow and you are going to take the generation of Nagas forward and therefore the seed of unity of peace must begin with you,” she stated. She further urged the young generations to speak for peace.
AYO President, Kekhrie Pfukha also said that Tenyimi represented the ancestry of 10 Naga tribes and “it is not just a social organisation but it is based on ancestral root”.
“In spite of the artificial boundaries we must endeavour the principal of oneness and let’s embrace a policy and process of connecting people,” he said.