Team Nagaland medal winners with NWA officials.
Kohima, January 12 (MExN): In a major achievement, Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) team bagged 22 medals at the 13th All India Traditional Wrestling & Pankration Federation (AITWPF) National Wrestling Championship 2026 held from January 9 to 12 at Mapusa, Goa.
NWA joint secretary Kuzhovesa Soho informed that for the first time, Naga Wrestling was introduced in this Championship as one of the Medal event competition discipline at the National level Championship and aim to carry forward to international arena in the upcoming championship.
NWA thanked all the Naga wrestling lovers for the cooperation and support towards NWA initiatives, wherein Naga wrestling has been placed as medal event discipline in the National level.
15 states participated in this Naga wrestling event.
In order of medal winners of the respective states in the Naga wrestling event included;. Assam- 17 medals, Delhi- 15 medals, Harayana-10 medals, Jammu & Kashmir- 5 medals, Jharkhand-1 medals, Kerala-6 medals, Manipur-9 medals, Meghalaya-26 medals, Rajasthan-13 medals, Telangana- 4 medals, Tripura-4 medals, West Bengal-4 medals, Maharashtra- 9 medals, Punjab- Nil and Nagaland-9 medals
NWA appreciated the tireless effort of AITWPF president, Omarmukhtar Tamboli for accepting the proposal of the NWA to include Naga Wrestling as the Medal event discipline in the national arena and to follow suit at the international championships in the coming days.
It also thanked Government of Nagaland and the Department of Youth Resources & Sports, Nagaland for the financial assistance and all other logistic supports and thereby making the long awaited dreams of the Naga wrestling lovers into a reality.
Altogether, five men wrestlers and four women wrestlers from Nagaland joined the championship, including seven NWA officials. Team Nagaland is expected to return Nagaland on January 13.
ACHIEVERS FROM NAGALAND
Naga Wrestling (Senior Men)
Venu Vadeo: Gold (+100Kg)
Thuputha Hesuh: Gold (90 Kg)
Seyiejalie Gwirie: Gold (80 Kg)
Wecho Wetsah: Gold (70 Kg)
Thehiechulie Metha: Gold (65 Kg)
Naga Wrestling
(Senior Women)
Vikehenuo Zumvu: Gold (+70 Kg)
Haizuyile Zeliang: Gold (65 Kg)
Vekhonielu Curhah: Gold (55 Kg)
Under 17 Girls
(Naga Wrestling)
Lutholu Vezuh: Silver (+60 Kg)
Belt Wrestling (Senior Men)
Venu Vadeo: Gold (+100Kg)
Thuputha Hesuh: Gold (90 Kg)
Seyiejalie Gwirie: Gold (80 Kg)
Wecho Wetsah: Gold (70 Kg)
Thehiechulie Metha: Silver (65 Kg)
Belt Wrestling
(Senior Women)
Vikehenuo Zumvu: Gold (+70 Kg)
Haizuyile Zeliang: Gold (65 Kg)
Vekhonielu Curhah: Gold (55 Kg)
Lutholu Vezuh: Silver (+60 Kg)
MAS Wrestling (Senior Men)
Thuputha Hesuh: Gold (90 Kg)
MAS Wrestling (Senior Girls)
Haizuyile Zeliang: Gold (65 Kg)
Vekhonielu Curhah: Gold (55 Kg)
Lutholu Vezuh: Silver (+60 Kg)
