Kohima: Kezhaseluo-o Pienyü from Kohima village on Friday won the Angami Sports Association (ASA) wrestling championship for the second time since taking the title in 2018.
The two-time champion defeated 24-year-old Kezhavizo Thevo from the village of Chedema. Pienyü walked away with a cash prize of Rs 2,000,000 while Thevo walked away with a cash prize of Rs 1.20,000.
Er Mhasilhusie Nagi (29) from Jotsoma village secured the third position and won a cash prize of Rs 80,000 while Vizaketuo Suohu ((26) from Kohima village secured fourth position and won a cash prize of Rs 50,000.
Nagi, who represented the Western Angami Sports Association (WASA), was named the best tactic and won a reward of Rs 10,000.
Northern Angami Sports Association (NASA) and WASA each received a cash prize of Rs 1.20,000 for emerging as group champions in the senior category. Southern Angami Sports Association (SASA) took the second position and won a cash reward of Rs 60,000 while Chakhroma Youth Association (CYO) took the third position in the group points category and won a reward of Rs 40,000.
The wrestling event, which was held in Khouchiezie (Kohima local ground), drew thousands of spectators.
Nagaland chief Neiphiu Rio, who attended earlier in the day, insisted on the need to promote and improve the traditional sport.
Rio, who is also the president of the Nagaland Olympics Association (NOA), suggested creating an expert committee to review the rules of the game and make recommendations to improve the sport.
Although it is a traditional sport, some changes can be made and up to three weights – light, medium and heavy – can be made to encourage young players, Rio joked.
