Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio with the sepaktakraw contingent, state government and Nagaland Sepaktakraw Association officials at the send-off programme in Sovima, Chümoukedima on August 24.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 24
Marking a milestone fifth consecutive Asian Games representation for the state in sepaktakraw, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on August 24 held a send-off ceremony for the Indian women’s team representatives from Nagaland, voicing optimism that the state’s athletes can eventually reach the Olympics.
The selected contingent comprises players Menenu Tsukru of the AIPSCB/SSB and Seyiekhrieno Tepa from the State Sports Hostel in Dimapur. They are accompanied by coaches Puleno Neikha from the Department of Youth Resources & Sports and Pungotolu Puro of the Nagaland Police DGP Sports Team. The team will represent India at the 20th Asian Games scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Addressing the send-off programme at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium in Sovima, Rio laid emphasis on maintaining high standards of performance on the international stage. “It is through discipline, dedication, and determination that ‘3D magic’—it has to be with you,” Rio stated. While Naga athletes possess natural talent, he said that a historical lack of consistency on and off the field has often hindered players from reaching the top tier.
The Chief Minister also contextualised the slow growth of the state’s sporting ecosystem, attributing it to decades of political uncertainty. According to him, the prevailing political and development challenges had the state getting affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association rather late, in 2004. As a consequence, he said that athletes were prevented from representing Nagaland at the National Games until after the affiliation.
He recalled that the state has been able to produce only three Olympians till date— Dr T Ao, archer Chekrovolu Swuro, and Subedar Hokato Hotozhe Sema, who bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
He attributed the slow progress in producing more international medalists to gaps in sports infrastructure, training facilities, and specialised coaching, which the state government is currently working to address.
Highlighting the changing economic landscape of sports, Rio remarked that it has transitioned into a highly viable career path. He pointed out that 14 to 15 sepaktakraw players of the state have already secured employment in state and central government services. “Sports today is no more a time pass or entertainment, it has the biggest potential,” Rio said, adding that the achievements of the current team carry the responsibility of motivating the state’s grassroots talent.
