The Under-13 ASMITA Zonal Football League 2025–26 (East Zone) was held on February 5, 2026, at Chümoukedima Football Stadium, bringing together young football talents from across the East Zone under the ASMITA and Khelo India initiatives.
Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima, Polan John, graced the inaugural ceremony as the special guest. Addressing the gathering, he highlighted football as a powerful tool for unity, discipline and character building, describing it as a platform that brings people together across generations. He appreciated the Government of Nagaland for strengthening sports infrastructure and acknowledged the Youth Resources and Sports Department and ASMITA for promoting grassroots football, particularly among young girls.
Emphasising equal opportunities in sports, Polan John said ASMITA provides vital competitive exposure to aspiring athletes. He encouraged parents to support their children’s sporting journeys and stressed that sports help keep youth engaged in positive activities while fostering teamwork, leadership and resilience. He noted that the league has drawn participation from teams across multiple states, marking an important step in talent identification and development, and wished teams a successful and injury free tournament.
Abhinav Sharma, Deputy Director, Khelo India Events, Sports Authority of India, said more than 1,250 tournaments across 32 sports disciplines have been conducted under ASMITA this financial year, benefiting over 1.5 lakh women athletes nationwide. He acknowledged the role of National Sports Federations, including the All India Football Federation, and the Nagaland Football Association.
The event is hosted by the Nagaland Football Association. The inaugural function was chaired by Kiyeka S Sumi. A welcome address was delivered by K. Neibou Sekhose, followed by an invocation by Rev. A. Temsu Longkumer and a special song by Kevilelhou Sokra.