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KOHIMA — The Angami wrestling championship will be held at Kohima local ground (Khouchiezie) on March 16, the Angami Sports Association (ASA) announced on Monday.
A total of 60 wrestlers, 15 each from the four Angami ranges - Western, Southern, Northern and Chakhroma - will vie for the championship title that comes with a cash award of INR 2.50 lakh, while the pool prize for the meet is INR 10 lakh. As many as 18 wrestlers will be selected from the event for the Naga wrestling meet.
Addressing media persons at Nagaland Olympic Association complex, ASA president Lhoubeizo Kesiyie said that Khouchiezie ground, which is still under construction, will be ready to accommodate 16,000 spectators. Around 7,000 to 8,000 spectators can be accommodated in the galleries and another 9,000 to 10,000 chairs can be accommodated in the ground.
He informed that the CEO of Kohima Smart City has assured them that the ground and galleries will be completed before the meet.
Urging wrestling lovers to witness the event, Kesiyie said that the Kohima Smart City is trying to cover the open galleries to ensure that people do not fall, and if not, the ASA will chip in.
Out of the INR 10 lakh pool prize, INR 2.50 lakh will be awarded to the champion, INR 1.70 lakh to the first runner-up and INR 1.30 lakh for the third position holder and INR 1 lakh for the fourth.
The quarter-finalists will also receive INR 20,000 each, while the best tactic wrestler will be awarded with INR 15,000. For the first time, ASA is introducing incentives to all the participants of the 2024 meet, Kesiyie said.
As per the ticket prices, it has been fixed at INR 100 for the gallery seat, INR 500 for the chair and INR 2000 for donors.
Informing that the Angami Catholic Union has been entrusted with the ground management for the event, the union expressed optimism that the wrestlers will do well in the upcoming 52nd ASA meet as they had taken coaching from Kyrgyzstan coaches.
ASA is happy with their performances, said Kesiyie while expressing hope that they will also perform well in the upcoming North East Olympic to be held in Nagaland from March 18 to the 23rd.