Nagaland ends decade-long medal drought at National Games

The Nagaland Women's Pencak Silat Regu team of Liike Kibami, Hinokali, and Avikali V Sheqi pose with their medals. (Photo Courtesy: @NagalandOlympic)

The Nagaland Women's Pencak Silat Regu team of Liike Kibami, Hinokali, and Avikali V Sheqi pose with their medals. (Photo Courtesy: @NagalandOlympic)

Women's Pencak Silat Team Secures Bronze

Morung Express News 
Dimapur | October 28

Nagaland, on October 27, ended a decade-long medal drought at the National Games by winning a medal in the ongoing 37th National Games in Goa."

The women's team, comprising Liike Kibami, Hinokali, and Avikali V Sheqi, secured the bronze in Pencak Silat Regu, a combative sport reportedly originating from Indonesia. Delhi emerged as the champion in the category, while the silver went to Haryana. Nagaland and Punjab, the two losing semifinalists, won the Bronze.

Kashito Kiba and Deep Kumar respectively served as the Nagaland’s Team Manager and Team Coach.

Incidentally, it is Nagaland's first medal at the National Games since the 2011 edition held in Ranchi, Jharkhand, when the State won 2 bronze medals. Thereafter, Nagaland failed to win any medals in the 2015 and 2022 editions of the national event.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio took to X, formerly Twitter, to celebrate the achievement and posted: “Nagaland wins its first medal at the 37th National Games in Goa. Congratulations to the Nagaland women's Pencak Silat team for winning the Bronze Medal in the Women's Regu category. Ms. Lüke Kibami, Ms. Hinokali & Ms. Avikali V. Sheqi represented the state very well. I wish them more success.”

Likewise, the Nagaland Olympic Association called the feat a 'significant moment' for the state and noted that it acknowledges the “remarkable achievement with the utmost professionalism!.”

As of October 28, Maharashtra was leading the mdeal tally with 78 medals followed by Haryana with 33 medals and Services Sports Control Board- 21 medals. The 2023 edition will conclude on November 9.