Mon Team, along with their Coach, Manager, and Assistant Manager, after receiving good luck crochet key charms handmade by PM Vishwakarma doll and toy artisans from Kohima District at IG Stadium Kohima. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, August 22 (MExN): The overwhelming support from fans across Nagaland has cemented the Dr T Ao Trophy 2025 in the state's sports history. The Mon District team won the trophy in a nail-biting penalty shootout against Niuland.
The tournament's popularity was notably driven by social media and WhatsApp, which provided instant updates that engaged even non-football fans. This phenomenon was aptly captured by the song 'Kenlak Nang O üte' (You will start to fall in love with me), performed at the finale by its singer, Hentok Konyak—a native of the winning Mon district, stated a DIPR report.
The football bug also caught the attention of the Doll and Toy maker PM Vishwakarma artisans from Kohima District. The artisans, crafted crochet key charms as good luck tokens for the Mon district football team ahead of the Dr T Ao Trophy final.
Through the District Industries Centre and with the help of a government official who had been actively tracking the team's progress, the doll and toy makers delivered the charms to the players the day before the championship match.
Awamenla Kichu, one of the artisans who crafted the charms, stated, “I feel proud to be part of the Mon team's journey through my craft. The PM Vishwakarma scheme has upskilled my craft through the toolkit we received after training.”
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched by the Government of India on September 17, 2023, supports traditional artisans and craftspeople. It provides training, toolkits worth Rs 15,000, collateral-free credit up to Rs 3 lakh, and market access. In Nagaland, the scheme is implemented by the Department of Industries & Commerce.
So far, 1,622 artisans in the state have been trained in various trades including basket weaving, doll making, carpentry, and tailoring. The scheme covers 18 trades, and interested artisans can enroll at registered Common Service Centres (CSC).
