Nagaland’s wrestling sensation Venuzo Dawhuo clinched the 3rd Senior Chakhesang Wrestling Association (CWA) Open Naga Traditional Wrestling Championship 2025, defeating Venu Vadeo in a thrilling final at the Pfutsero Sports Complex on Friday.
This victory marked Dawhuo’s first CWA Open title, a long-awaited milestone in his career after missing the previous two editions. Rukukhoto Khesoh and Keneiselie Khawakhrie claimed the third and fourth positions respectively.
Dawhuo, from Thenyizu village, received Rs 2 lakh as the champion’s prize, while Vadeo from Runguzu Village earned Rs 1.2 lakh. The third and fourth place winners i.e Khesoh and Khawakhrie received Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.
The 30-year-old wrestler, already a household name in Naga traditional wrestling, has previously won the Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) Open Championship three consecutive times — in 2021, 2023, and 2025. He has also captured two NWA Main Event titles and is a four-time consecutive CWA Senior Champion.
For Dawhuo, the victory completes a long journey of the Chakhesang open wrestling championship, one that began with a semifinal loss in the first edition of the CWA Open and an absence in the second edition due to the Northeast Olympic Games.
In the Under-15 category, Kutho Puro won first place, followed by Lhiwe Ngachu, Nehuta Chuzho, and Tsuhu Tetseo.
