ASA officials during the press conference at Kohima on August 11. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 11
The Angami Sports Association (ASA) has scheduled to commemorate its 50th years of sports meet in February 2022 through various games and sports including traditional wrestling and indigenous games.
Four Angami regions namely Western Angami Sports Association (WASA), Northern Angami Sports Association (NASA), Southern Angami Sports Association (SASA) and Chakhroma Sports Association (CSA) are affiliated to ASA.
Announcing this upcoming event through a press conference at Hotel Vivor, Kohima, ASA president, Lhoubeizo Kesiyie informed the event will be conducted in Khouciezie (local ground) Kohima, IG Stadium and Badminton Stadium.
For the first time, the association, he said, is introducing indigenous games like bamboo stilt, war cry, tug of war etc. Other games include football (men), volleyball (men and women), badminton (men, women and double), table tennis (men, women and double) and athletics (men and women).
He also informed that a total of Rs 4, 63,000 (four lakh sixty three thousand) has been estimated for the prize money along with medals and citations. Maximum amount of prize money has been earmarked for wrestling, which will be held at local ground.
The individual senior wrestling champion will walk away with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh while the second, third and fourth will be awarded with Rs 1,20,000, Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively, and Rs 10,000 each to the four quarter finalists.
For under 16 wrestling for juniors, the winner will be awarded with Rs 40,000 while the second, third and fourth will be awarded with Rs 30,000 Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 and Rs 5000 each to the four quarter finalists.
Even as the sports meet has been scheduled, the association informed that it will depend on the pandemic situation, and it will comply with government approval and protocols. However, it hopes that the situation will improve for the association to celebrate its sports anniversary.
With a view to promote traditional wrestling to other non-wrestling Naga tribes, the president said it will extend invitation to all Naga sports associations to witness the event.
On promotion of Naga wrestling
Even though the traditional grapping sports, an indigenous games of the Tenyimias attracts spectators of all ages, with has been lack of support from supposedly required sources, it becomes difficult for a professional wrestler to survive as the wrestling events are a yearly affair.
Concurring to this fact, when enquired ASA president who has been association with the association for more than two decades said, there has been little or no interest and support from the government to promote wrestling, and that it becomes very difficult to promote this game on its own, being an NGO with lack of resources. “Sometimes it very discouraging with no encouragement from the government when we approach them,” said Kesiyie.
However, he maintained that the association is trying at its level along with the Naga Wrestling Association to promote among other tribes, as well to be recognised at the Indian Olympic Association level.
At its end, he informed that to dignify wrestling, the association has been conducting training for Under-16. “Managing on the benevolence of friends, well wishers and donors,” he added.
