Watinungsang Imsong being felicitated by A Rahman during the event at IFBC, Indisen on April 3. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 3
In a testament towards the growing love for the sport of cricket among the Nagas, a felicitation-cum-annual award programme was held at the Indian Fast Bowling Center (IFBC) on April 3, Indisen village, Dimapur.
Watinungsang Imsong, who recently completed the International Cricket Council (ICC) level-1 certificate, and the first from Nagaland to do so, was felicitated by special guest, Abihur Rahman, Joint Secretary of Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA). Wati is also the head coach of IFBC, wherein 14 of his students also received individual achievement awards during the event for being selected in the Nagaland state cricket team.
Speaking on the occasion, Rahman shared the challenges and struggles that players from NCA faced during their initial years before being affiliated with BCCI, due to lack of funds and other constraints. However, he said that the love and passion for cricket among the Nagas have grown in the past few years owing to the state being a full-fledged member of BCCI in 2018. Training centres such as IFBC, he said, will play a crucial role in moulding young talents from Nagaland and across the country in the years to come.
Rahman also spoke about his appreciation for Wati on achieving one of cricket’s highest level certification as a coach. He wished him success in his future endeavours and hoped that cricket will continue to grow as a sport in the state.
Watinungsang completed ICC level-1 certification from Dubai and he is the first from Nagaland to achieve it. He also had a short stint as a manager for Nagaland’s women team that went to Pondicherry. Wati has been invited to undergo 7 days bowling camp at Omtex Cricket Institute, Mumbai, India’s biggest sport brand and cricket institute. On his future plans, he has shared that he wishes to be an international coach someday or maybe as an IPL coach if God wills it.
IFBC is currently among the only four fast bowling centres in the world- 2 in England, 1 in Australia and 1 in Nagaland. It was set up last year in August, 2021 at Indisen. There are currently 40 or so students undergoing training at the center who hails from places such as Mumbai, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Arunachal,UP and from Nagaland as well.
