Nagaland Wrestling Association to Host 15th Open Naga Wrestling and Inaugural Women’s Championship on March 28

Open Naga Wrestling and Inaugural Women's C'ship: NWA assured that it will give its best for promotional drive till it reaches all 17 tribes.

The Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) is all set to organise its 15th Open Naga Wrestling and the 1st ever Women Open Naga Wrestling Championship 2025 on March 28 at Khuochiezie ground, Kohima.

The event will kick off at 8:00 AM, with Minister for Public Health Engineering & Cooperation, Jacob Zhimomi, gracing the occasion as the special guest, and ENPO President Chingmak Chang attending as the honoured guest.

This historic event will not only celebrate Nagaland’s indigenous wrestling tradition but also mark a significant step toward inclusivity and expansion beyond its traditional strongholds.

At a press conference, Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) President, Vivolie Kezo, announced that the NWA, in its General Assembly for the 2024-2028 tenure held on July 20, 2024, made a groundbreaking decision to expand Naga wrestling to all 17 tribes of the state. Traditionally practiced by a few select Naga tribes, the sport is now reaching new communities, ensuring its growth and evolution.

In line to this decision, he said NWA had approached the leaders of various tribes and started forming their own Wrestling Associations, and as a result, this is going to be the first time in the history of NWA that in total 129 wrestlers, 100 men and 29 women from 10 tribes are participating in this open championship. The participating tribe are, Angami, Chakhesang, Zeliang. Lotha, Sumi, Pochury, Rengma, Chang, Ao and Phom.

The NWA assured that it will give its best for this promotional drive till it reaches all the 17 tribes in the state.

“Besides, it should be promoted even beyond the state aiming to get National, International and even to the extent of recognition in the Olympic Games one day or the other,” he added.

Kezo said that the second and the most important stand is, to promote Naga Wrestling till its recognition as a sport event in the international arena and in the Olympic games.

Beyond its local expansion, the NWA has ambitious plans to move Naga wrestling into the global arena. Kezo said that with strong backing from Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and NOA Secretary General Abu Metha, Nagaland is preparing to host the Asian Belt Wrestling Championship, a move that could catapult the sport to new heights.

What makes this event even more thrilling is that Naga wrestling is being considered as a main event, provided the sport meets the standards and regulations set by the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“Everyone has agreed and decided that our Traditional Naga Wrestling which has its own value and its uniqueness will be maintained as it is, and the Traditional Naga Wrestling will be played in the main events of NWA. On the other hand, considering the importance and benefits of our Naga wrestling to be recognised internationally by fulfilling the criteria set by the UWW, we have also decided to move ahead with the condition they have given to us. This Naga wrestling (for promotion) will be played during the International Hornbill Naga Wrestling Championship. Open Naga wrestling championship, National and International Naga wrestling championship. With all the mentioned reasons, we want to make it very clear to the general public, that Naga Traditional Wrestling will be maintained as it is, and in the events of Naga Traditional Wrestling, women’s participation will not be there. This will be called Naga Naga Traditional Wrestling. The other one Wrestling this nomenclature will be used for International recognition. This is the second time, that the Naga wrestling system is going to be implemented. With all these clear visions, if we go hand in hand, our goal will be achieved sooner than later,” he added.

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