Kohima, August 26 (MExN): The Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) today informed that ever since the inception of the NWA, the erstwhile Naga Wrestling Board in 1968, the Association has been primarily putting more focused on the Naga style of wrestling.
“However, with our affiliation to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in 1999, Free Style Wrestling became another important sport discipline wherein, the NWA has to nurture its wrestlers to promote and excel. By virtue of being a Federating Unit of WFI, the NWA Members are privileged and were eligible to be an Executive Official Members in various capacities for the last 16 (Sixteen) years,” according to NWA.
During this period, the NWA enjoyed the mandate of all wrestling fraternities to nominate members for any suitable post in the composition of WFI office bearers.
In any election, NWA stated, it is quite natural that there is always competition and contest between various candidates for which there arise the tendency of groupism.
Similarly, even the present ensuing election is not an Exceptional Case neither an Extra-Ordinary situation. The past NWA Members availing such opportunities in representing our Association in WEI election earlier have their experiences (which need no further explanation), it stated.
And that the present NWA office bearers are just following their foot-steps but keeping in mind about the fate and future of our Association in the long-run, it stated.
“With the official information and announcement of WFI election, like any other past election, the NWA in its Executive Meeting has unanimously proposed and approved the candidature of Neivikuolie Khatsii, the NWA Advisor to file nomination for the post of Joint Secretary in WFI and also proposed and selected two Executive Members as Electoral College Members of WFI Election and mandated them to observe and study the dynamism of this election and assess its over-all Scenario, so as to secure a post in WFI,” NWA stated.
The development is such that the 25 Wrestling Associations (WFI Units) are broadly divided into two different Camps.
But in either of the camps, none of the alleged WFI officials are contesting for any post.
“Therefore, there is no question of NWA favoring or choosing Brij Bhushan over Anita Sharan because the former is not a candidate for any of the post in the ensuing WFI election. However, we cannot stop any person from having the ‘Passion for Wrestling’ at the WFI or NWA level but at the same time, the Association shall allow any person or persons to interfere or dictate or sabotage the NWA interests at our State nor at WFI platform,” according to NWA president Dr. Hiabe Zeliang and general secretary Vilekho Bio.
“The Nagaland Wrestling Association is constraint to publish this press statement. However, certain irrelevant allegations and accusations such as “Voting for Position or Principle, Lack of Transparency, No Mandate, etc.,” were circulated in electronic and print media. Therefore, this press statement has been published to clear any doubts, if any, among its units, members or the wrestling enthusiasts to let good sense prevail,” the NWA stated.
