Players of the opening game of this year’s tournament with the organizers and the inaugural match Patron.
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | September 17
The 17th edition of the prestigious Imchaba Master Memorial Nagaland Open Volleyball Trophy 2024 commenced on Tuesday, September 17, at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Mokokchung. Organized by the Mokokchung District Volleyball Association (MDVA), this annual event has brought together 19 teams from various parts of Nagaland. Notably, seven of the participating teams hail from outside Mokokchung district, representing districts such as Tuensang, Kohima, Dimapur, Wokha, and Zunheboto.
The inaugural program was graced by Temsüchuba Jamir, SDO (C) Mokokchung, who served as the Inaugural Patron. In his speech, Jamir reflected on the legacy of Imchaba, who was both an educator and a sportsman. He commended Imchaba’s contributions to the development of volleyball and sports in Mokokchung. Jamir emphasized the unifying power of sports, noting how events like this bring people together, fostering friendships and generating positive change within society. He also congratulated the MDVA for successfully organizing the tournament for 17 consecutive years, underscoring the large turnout as evidence of the event’s role in promoting unity.
The tournament follows a league-cum-knockout format, with the 19 teams divided into four groups. The competition will culminate on September 20, with the best teams vying for the championship title. The MDVA has announced an array of attractive cash prizes for the winners: the champions will receive Rs 1,00,000, the runners-up Rs 70,000, and the second and third runners-up Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively. Additionally, individual players will be recognized for their performances, with Rs 5,000 each being awarded to the Best Spiker, Best Setter, and Player of the Tournament.
The defending champions, Ozumi Volleyball Team, are back to defend their title after a thrilling victory in the 16th edition, where they triumphed over MH10 Kohima in a hard-fought five-set match. The opening game of this year’s tournament saw Archippus Club (Waromong) claim victory in a closely contested encounter against Young Defender’s Club (Tuensang), with scores of 24-26, 26-24, and 15-9.
