Dehradun, September 25: Nagaland Wushu fighters ended their campaign in the 33rd Senior National Wushu Championship in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, with defeats on Wednesday.
Nupa Kiho was the last man standing for the Nagaland team but lost his match against ASCB’s Thangjam Naocha Meitei in the pre-quarterfinal round of the 60 kg category. Other players, Vipu Zhimomi (52 kg), Mankho T. Konyak (56 kg), Lichonthung Odyuo (65 kg), and Yoto Chizo (70 kg), managed to reach only the second round of the championship.
The competition was organized under the joint aegis of the Wushu Association of Uttarakhand and the Wushu Association of India at Maharana Pratap Indoor Stadium, Raipur, Dehradun. A total of 1,500 players and officials from 44 affiliated units across the country are participating in the event.
The team, representing the Nagaland Wushu Association, was led by Neizouvotuo Khusoh as the head coach, with R.K. Shanti Kumar Singh as the assistant coach, and Azhove Resu as the team manager.
Neizouvotuo Khusoh, the head coach, said that a lack of exposure had hampered the players’ performance inside the arena. While acknowledging the association’s support, he expressed hope that the players would receive more exposure and that there would be increased focus on promoting the sport in Nagaland. He noted that the Naga players did not lack physicality but rather the right techniques and training to excel in this sporting discipline.
The Nagaland team will now return to the state on September 26.