One of the biggest volleyball tournaments in the state, the much-awaited Imchaba Master Memorial Nagaland Open Volleyball Trophy 2026 got underway at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Mokokchung on Tuesday, September 22.
Organised by the Mokokchung District Volleyball Association (MDVA), the inaugural programme of the 19th edition was graced by Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Imkongchuba A as the guest of honour, which also featured the handing over of the championship trophy by defending champions Evergreen Club Ungma.
To recap, Evergreen Club Ungma defeated then defending champions MH-10 Kohima in a five-set thriller to win the title in 2025, staging a remarkable comeback after trailing by two sets. Play was briefly halted during the deciding set following a minor disruption involving spectators before resuming shortly after. Evergreen Club Ungma became the 11th team to lift the prestigious trophy.
The ongoing edition features 14 teams, with six teams from Mokokchung district and eight teams from Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto and Kohima districts.
A total of nine matches were scheduled for the opening day. The tournament will conclude on September 25.
In the opening match, Longsa Sports Association, the most successful team in the tournament’s history, went down to Pangti Volleyball Team 25-27; 17-25.
Changtongya Volleyball Association defeated Twin Brothers 25-18; 25-21 in the second match. Bokato Memorial Team then defeated Chienino Brothers Kiruphema 25-15; 25-16, while Unicorn Tuensang defeated Zenith Pughoboto 25-9; 25-21.
Defending champions Evergreen Club Ungma defeated Phoenix Club 25-16; 25-22. Yangs Brothers defeated Khanshang Volleyball Academy 26-24; 26-24, while Bokato Memorial Team registered their second win of the tournament by defeating Pangti Volleyball Team 29-27; 22-25; 15-13 in a close encounter. Two more matches were scheduled for the late evening at the time of filing this report.
The tournament, organised by the MDVA, was first held in 2003. It was initially conducted as a biennial tournament until the fourth edition in 2009. From 2010, it was held annually except in 2020 and 2021, when it was called off due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
The tournament has so far seen 11 different teams lift the trophy. Dilong Ward won the inaugural edition in 2003 and remains the only team from Mokokchung town to have won the title.
Longsa Sports Association then dominated the next five editions, winning consecutively in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Lenzung Club from Changtongya won in 2012, followed by Sporting Club Mangkolemba in 2013 and 2014. Adventure Club of Changtongya won in 2015, while Lakhuni Sporting Club claimed the title in 2016.
Sakutemjen Memorial Club from Chungtiayimsen lifted the trophy in 2017 and 2018, while a united Changtongya Volleyball Association won its first title in 2019.
Following the COVID-19 hiatus, MH-10 Kohima won the revamped tournament in 2022 and 2024, while Ozumi Volleyball Team won in 2023. Evergreen Club Ungma became the 11th team to lift the trophy in 2025 and are competing as defending champions.
The tournament carries total prize money of Rs 2.20 lakh, one of the largest prize purses among volleyball tournaments in Nagaland. The champion will receive Rs 1 lakh, the runner-up Rs 70,000, and the third- and fourth-placed teams Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively.
Individual awards for Best Spiker, Best Setter, Player of the Tournament and Emerging Player carry Rs 5,000 each. Teams failing to reach the semifinals will also receive a Rs 5,000 participation grant.
Further, MDVA has historically offered teams travelling from outside Mokokchung travel assistance of up to Rs 5,000, perhaps making it the first district-level sports body in Nagaland to offer such an incentive.