Nagaland etched its name in history with a gold medal in the women’s quad regu sepak takraw event at the Khelo India Beach Games in Diu on Friday night, May 23, 2025. This remarkable performance catapulted the state into the top three for the first time in any Khelo India Games. In the men’s quad regu final, Delhi beat Manipur to clinch gold.
Nagaland wrapped up its KIBG 2025 campaign in third place, claiming five gold, three silver, and five bronze medals. Four of the golds came from pencak silat. Only Manipur and Maharashtra, the top two states, secured more silver medals.
Celebrations erupted across Ghoghla Beach as the final whistle blew, creating a carnival-like atmosphere. The Nagaland women’s team showed grit and determination, overcoming nerves and tough resistance to edge past Haryana 2-1 in a thrilling final.
“It was a very dramatic match. Haryana were playing so well but luck favoured us and we got the job done,” stated a jubilant Kethosituo Sekhose, Chef de Mission of Nagaland. “This team will now go prepare and hopefully some of them will get selected for India team. The overall performance for Nagaland has been very nice. Almost everyone got a medal,” he added.
The Delhi men’s team, meanwhile, claimed the quad regu final 2-0 with ease against Manipur, who emerged as overall KIBG 2025 champions. A lively crowd turned up and cheered enthusiastically during both the men’s and women’s sepak takraw finals, though the women’s final stole the spotlight.
Seyiekhrieno Tepa, captain of the Nagaland women’s team, couldn’t hide her joy. “I’m so happy. The match was tough but we kept giving our best. Right now, I’m feeling so grateful. Firstly, I want to thank God, my family, my coaches, my team and everyone,” the 24-year-old said. “The accommodations and all arrangements were done so well here at the Khelo India Beach Games. Now we have to continue our hard work for the upcoming competitions too,” she added.
Nagaland took the first set 15-6, stumbled in the second with a 7-15 loss, but roared back from 0-4 to win the deciding set 15-11, sealing a historic victory. This is the first time Nagaland has finished in the top three at any Khelo India event.
This is the first edition of the Beach Games conducted under the Khelo India banner. The Games were held under the sports competition and talent development vertical of the Khelo India Scheme from May 19 to 24, in Diu, Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. This initiative aims to promote beach sports and enhance the reach and popularity of the Beach Games. In this edition, there are six medal events: Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach Kabaddi, Pencak Silat, and Open Water Swimming. Two non-medal demonstration sports—Mallakhamb and Tug of War— were also included in the event.
Sepak Takraw Results
Quad Regu
Men: Gold: Delhi; Silver: Manipur; Bronze: Odisha, Bihar
Women: Gold: Nagaland; Silver: Haryana; Bronze: Uttar Pradesh, Odisha
Trio Event
Men: Gold: Assam; Silver: Delhi; Bronze: Tamil Nadu, Manipur
Women: Gold: Manipur; Silver: Nagaland; Bronze – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
Doubles Event
Men: Final: Haryana 2-0 Goa; Bronze: Telangana, Bihar
Women: Final: Kerala 2-0 Odisha; Bronze: Andhra Pradesh, Delhi
Team Trio
Men: Final: Delhi 2-1 Manipur; Bronze: Assam, Tamil Nadu
Women: Final: Haryana 2-1 Manipur; Bronze: Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland
(With DIPR inputs)