Winners of the Phek Area Wrestling Association along with the champion Vekutho Soho and Waku K Tara and others here at Phek Town on Tuesday.
Our Correspondent
Phek | February 1
Vekutho Soho from Phek village emerged as the new champion of the 27th Senior and 2nd Under-16 wrestling meet 2022 of Phek Area Wrestling Association (PAWA) held on Tuesday at local ground Phek Town.
27 year old Vekutho Soho defeated a veteran and former champion Surhoneyi Soho in the final match of the wrestling meet.
42 year old Surhoneyi Soho also from Phek village is a celebrated veteran wrestler and 7th times champion of the Phek Area winning his last in the year 2018.
Celebrating his 25th year at the wrestling arena, he managed to win the first bout in the finals but Vekutho Soho a younger and smarter grappler outwitted his opponent Hükhoneyi Soho in the second and third bout to take the title for the first time.
Weighting 85kg and standing 5 feet 7 inches tall,Vekutho Soho is the son of renowned wrestler Hükhoneyi Soho.
Interestingly Surhoneyi Soho is the brother of Hükhoneyi Soho, who weights weights 104 kg and stands 5 feet 9 inches tall.
Akhrüku Vezüh (Khomi village) downed Sührhovoyi Neinu(Khomi village) to take the third position.
The champion Vekutho walked walked home with a cash prize of Rs. 90,000, Surhoneyi received Rs 70,000, while third and fourth position holder Akhrüku Vezüh and Sührhovoyi Neinu got Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 40,000 respectively.
For U-16 category, Waku K Tara (Losami village) took the first position followed by Khriesahu Rhakho (Kutsapo village), third and fourth position went to Khosato Neinu and Kelelo Lohe.
The junior champ was awarded with Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000; Rs 10,000 and Rs 7000 respectively for 2nd, 3rd and 4th position for U-16 category.
Defending champ Vekuzo Vezuh lost his second round match against Kuluvezo Soho and failed to enter the knockout stage. A total of 64 wrestlers including 18 U-16 wrestlers competed for the coveted wrestling title.
Earlier, MLA Küzholüzo (Azo) Nienu graced as the special guest for the inaugural session. In his short address, he call upon the wrestling associations to improvised the standard of the training in order to compete along with others tribes.
Adding that not only in wrestling but also in other aspects of other career prospect, he viewed that the youths are lagging behind. He said scientific training was the need of the hour to achieve better performances.
He noticed that the Chakhesang wrestlers are still following the forefathers using old method and hasn’t improvised over the years. To this, he urged upon the need for more improvisation and more scientific training in their respective fields.
While called upon the gathering to be more discipline in their profession to be better than others. He encouraged the wrestlers to give their best in order become champions.
Guest of honour NPF Phek division president Wepe Mekrisuh in his address suggested that traditional game should now turn into profession for wrestlers. He said wrestling association has reach it’s fame to other part of other tribe in Nagaland over the past years. With interest, he viewed that the wrestling has become a bigger prospect.
While added that wrestlers is not just about diet but also the need to maintain the physical aspects of the body. He vouched for the need to give importance for U-16 wrestling for the growth of young wrestlers.
.jpg)
