Nupa Kiho (blue) in action against Thangjam Naocha Meitei in the pre-quarterfinal round of the 33rd Senior National Wushu Championship in Dehradun on September 25.
Dehradun, September 25 (MExN): Nagaland’s Wushu fighters’ campaign at the 33rd Senior National Wushu Championship in Dehradun, Uttarakhand came to an end on Wednesday, with Nupa Kiho, the last undefeated player from the team, losing his match.
He lost in the pre-quarterfinal round of the 60 kg category to ASCB’s Thangjam Naocha Meitei. Other players, Vipu Zhimomi (52 kg), Mankho T Konyak (56 kg), Lichonthung Odyuo (65 kg), and Yoto Chizo (70 kg), managed to reach the second round of the championship.
The competition was organised 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 (NWA), was led by Neizouvotuo Khusoh as the head coach, with RK Shanti Kumar Singh as the assistant coach and Azhove Resu as the team manager.
In a press release, the NWA, citing head coach Khusoh, noted that the lack of exposure had hampered the players’ performance inside the arena. He also expressed hope that the players would receive more exposure and that there would be increased focus on promoting the sport in Nagaland. Naga players did not lack physicality but rather the right techniques and training to excel in this sporting discipline, he added.
The Nagaland team will return to the state on September 26.
