Players demonstrating an aainball game on the concluding day of the aainball training camp organised by the NABA in Dimapur on April 9. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 9
The Nagaland Aainball Association (NABA) organised a 2-day aainball training camp for coaches and players in Dimapur on April 8 and 9. A total of 38 participants— 14 coaches and 24 players underwent training in the camp under the supervision of master trainers, Dipankar Kalita and Pragyan Sarma, at the State Environment & Forestry Training Institute, which served as a makeshift venue.
At the closing function on April 8, MLA Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu, who is the NABA President, regarded aainball gaining rapid popularity across the world, for a relatively new sport credited to have originated in Morocco in 2006. It has especially gained popularity in the uniformed services, he said. With the sport still to pick up in the northeast of India, he said that the NABA is taking initiative to start it in colleges and schools. While he thanked the players for showing interest, he said, “Without players a sport cannot grow.” He added that the association will continue to work towards furthering the growth of the sport.
According to the NABA General Secretary, Avizo Nienu, Nagaland is the first state in India to conduct a training programme for aainball. NABA Chief Advisor, Sandeep M Tamgadge, Additional Director General of Police (Law &Order) and NABA Advisor, T Aochuba, Director of Intangki National Park, Department of Environment Forest and Climate Change were also in attendance.
