Medo Yhokha, Diezevisie Nakhro and others unveil the new NSF Martyrs’ Memorial Trophy.

Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 7
The new trophy for the NSF Martyrs’ Memorial Trophy was unveiled on October 6 at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima, coinciding with the ongoing 25th edition of the tournament.
The trophy was unveiled by Organising Committee convener Medo Yhokha, along with members of the organising committee and Angami Students’ Union (ASU) president Diezevisie Nakhro and his team. Made of brass, the trophy weighs over nine kilograms, stands 14.5 inches tall, and is valued at Rs 1.43 lakh.
Resembling the FIFA World Cup, the trophy was procured from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, through G-Sports, Chümoukedima. Officials said the introduction of a new trophy marks the silver jubilee edition of the tournament, held annually in memory of two student martyrs, Late Kekuojalie Sachü of Kohima Village and Late Vikhozo Yhoshü of Kigwema Village, who were killed during indiscriminate firing by the Armed Police at Alichen on March 20, 1986, while protesting against the extension of the Disturbed Area Belt and induction of IPS cadres in Nagaland.
The tournament was initially played among four ranges of ASU, Northern, Western, Southern, and Chakhro, from the late 1980s until 1991.
Between 1992 and 1995, it was conducted at Khuochiezie (Local Ground) Kohima under the banner of Open NSF Martyrs’ Trophy. After the All Zeliangrong Students’ Union won three consecutive editions, the tournament was renamed NSF Martyrs’ Memorial Trophy in 1998.
The first three editions were held biannually (1998, 2000, 2002), but the tournament has been organised annually since, making the current 25th edition the silver jubilee celebration despite nearly 30 years of history. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on October 18.