Reigning Naga Wrestling champion Venuzo Timothy Dawhuo defeated Chin champion Mang C Lian in straight bouts in a Special Challenge championship match at the 12th Chin Youth Organization of North America (CYONA) in Bloomington, Indianapolis, USA on Monday evening.
In a match between the best Naga and Chin wrestlers, it was Venuzo Dawhuo that got the better of Chin champ Mang C Lian in two straight rounds to take the title.
Venuzo Dawhuo is a two-time defending Nagaland wrestling champion and have won the open Naga wrestling title three times, making it 5 major titles in his kitty while Mang Ceu Lian is two-time NAPC Champion, 2017 CYONA Champion and 2023 Missouri CND Champion.
Chin Youth Organization of North America (CYONA) had invited the Nagaland champ to take part in the 12th Biennial Convention celebrating cultural exchange through wrestling in Bloomington, Indianapolis USA.
The Naga wrestler’s trip to the USA is under the aegis of Chakhesang Wrestling Association. He accepted the challenge to compete against the Chin wrestler in the USA through Chin wrestling style. It was his first match against Chin wrestlers in the USA but he managed to get the grip and tempo in the game beating his opponent with much ease.
After winning the bout, Venuzo credited God for his success and said it was his lucky day to win against the Chin champ.
Abu Metha, Nagaland Olympic Association general secretary took to Twitter to congratulate Venuzo. “It’s a shining one amongst many feathers in his cap and also a joyous moment for Nagaland. Congratulations to him. Nagaland is proud,” he tweeted.
A challenger’s card is on the list on 7 or 8 July as Dawhuo might still wrestle against some of the best wrestlers from the Chin community with the likes of Rung Lian Ceu, Biak etc.
Rung Lian Ceu came to Nagaland in the year 2019 and lost to Venuzo Dawhuo by a whisker. Reports say it is likely that there will be a rematch for the former Chin champ to take on Venuzo Dawhuo again.