Nagaland Sports
Phek boys, Niuland girls win U-14 sepaktakraw titles
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 14 (EMN): Phek district and Niuland district emerged champions in the boys’ and girls’ U-14 of sepaktakraw (Regu event) categories respectively.
Phek defeated Wokha district in the boys’ category while Niuland defeated Chumoukedima district in the girls’ category at the 14th Inter-District Catch Them Young Tournament 2022, which concluded on Friday.
The championship was organised by department of Youth Resources and Sports (Y&RS) at Indira Gandhi Stadium (IGS) with all 16 districts participating in the tournament.
In the boy’s category final, Phek district, despite losing the first set 9 – 21, made a quick recovery in the second set winning 21 – 12 and also took charge of the third set with score line 21 – 17.
Longleng district and Mokokchung were the losing semifinalists in the boys’ category.
In girls’ category, Niuland dominated the final match defeating Chumoukedima 21 – 19 and 21 – 15 in two straight sets.
Mokokchung and Dimapur were the losing semi finalists in the girls’ category.
Advisor for YR&S, Zale Neikha, gave away the awards to the winners.
In his address, Neikha said sepaktakraw, which has its roots in the Asian sub-continent, is now played at different national and international levels.
He maintained that in the state, sepaktakraw discipline has been one of the best performing sports disciplines with state players having represented India at different international events including the Asian Games.
He also informed that in the recent 35th edition of 2022 King’s Cup Sepaktakraw World Championship, Bangkok, three prominent players from Nagaland namely Viseyie Koso, Akumtila and Vesevolii Dozo had brought laurels to the state.
“From the last concluded Nagaland Olympic and Paralympic Games 2022, I have noticed that our Nagas are enthusiastic sports persons capable of competing with the rest of the world,” the YR&S advisor said.
Neikha also alluded to criticisms in social media about the Nagaland contingent which participated in the recently concluded 36th National Games 2022 but failed to get any medal.
“So in social media platform, people started trolling and blaming the department and the government. Of course the department and government in some area may have failed to provide necessary requirements but I believe we are equally responsible, so we should revamp and renew this mindset by evaluating the failure from the side of the participants, the families, coaches, community and association,” he said.