64th KVSA meet 2020 makes colorful start

Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 6 

The week long 64th KVSA (Kohima Village Sports Association) meet 2020 under the aegis of Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO) got underway here this evening at Khuochiezie, Kohima Local Ground.

In a grand opening ceremony amidst thunderous cheers, Kohima Village Council chairman Dr. Neiphi Kire declared the meet open, which will continue till January 11.

Dr. Kire, while expounded on the theme of the meet ‘Adielo’, which translated means ‘forgiveness, not to stand against one another or think about the welfare of others’. He said such approach is the need of the hour to have unity and oneness in the family, society and villages.

Also stating that the Youth Resources and Sports Department of the State has been providing various facilities for overall improvement of the sports in the State, he however said it is not enough only to provide one time awards to the achievers. Nonetheless, he opined that better avenues of coaching facilities, exposure and livelihood should also be provided in order to encourage talented sportsperson to excel and bring laurels at higher level of competitions.

KVYO president Dzuvinguzo Mepfhuo extended greetings and best wishes on the occasion.

Drill display, music extravaganza, traditional act play marked the opening ceremony.

Around 350 to 400 youth from four khels will vie for 45 Gold, 45 Silver and 24 Bronze medals in 26 athletics and six games event.

Athletics and football will be conducted at Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima while Naga wrestling, volleyball and basketball ball will take place at Kohima Local ground.

Naga wrestling has been scheduled for January 11.

For the first time, under-16 open Naga wrestling will be conducted on January 8 at L. Khel Indoor Stadium.

Indoor games including Badminton, Table Tennis and Chess will be conducted d at Indoor Stadium, Officers’ Hill, Kohima.

About 75 years back, some village elders of Kohima village introduced sports as a means to bring together youths of the four khels of Kohima village in the form of the present KVSA Meet because back then, there was enmity among the khels like restriction of grazing of cattle on each other’s land, restriction of drawing water from each other's ponds, and restriction on inter-khel socializing, land and property confrontations etc.

Back then, the first edition of the KVSA Meet was conducted with significant understanding and sense of friendship among the khels.

Initially Naga wrestling played a key role as it was naturally the sport of friendship where two wrestlers who faced each other remained bosom friends for life. Eventually other sports disciplines were also added and the event started growing in the desired manner.