Pencak Silat Association appeals govt for recognition

NPSA office bearers with the participants in Dimapur on Saturday. (Morung photo)

Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 24

The Nagaland Pencak Silat Association (NPSA) has Saturday appealed the government of  Nagaland to recognise the association under the department of Youth Resources and Sports and Nagaland Olympic Association.

The NPSA team which recently won 8 medals at the Junior National Pencak Silat Championship held at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, Punjab has also appealed the State government to send proposal to Central government for inclusion of Pencak Silat in Khelo India to avail the benefits such as scholarship, national awards, jobs, talent identification etc.

It has also asked the government of Nagaland to include the sport in Hornbill Festival and for cultural exchange of indigenous games and sports between Nagaland, Indonesia and south east Asian countries.

It maybe mentioned that the state Pencak Silat team won 8 medals (5 gold and 3 bronze) at the Junior National Pencak Silat Championship held from August 19 to 21 in Amritsar. The team was led by Khevishe Sema, president of the association along with Hetoi Sema, A Ghunato Sema and coach Deep Kumar. The junior team which took part in 4 events at the championship were Kitenlo K Thono, Kivinoka Swu, Kevin, Imnatoshi Longkumer, Nasher and Manish Chhetri. 

Khevishe Sema, president, Nagaland Pencak Silat Association was invited as the guest of honour in the opening ceremony of Junior National Pencak Silat Championship by Indian Pencak Silat Federation in recognition of his efforts to promote the game. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Khevishe reminded the players that they were the torch bearers of India in the sport.

Altogether 500 players and officials from 32 states and union territories participated in the tournament.

The Nagaland Pencak Silat Association will also be representing the state at International championship in Singapore in October. 

Addressing a press conference in Dimapur on Saturday  NPSA office bearers said that they had participated in the recent National Pencak Silat Championship at Amritsar without any government funding but from their own pockets. “In October 2019, World  Pencak Silat Championship would be held at Singapore and we are faced with financial constraints for that too,” said Khevishe.

In recognition of their achievement at the national championship, the Nagaland team was felicitated by H. Khehovi Yeptho, advisor, Tourism, Art and Culture at Nagaland House, New Delhi on August 22. Khehovi while lauding the team for bringing laurels to the state also assured that he would meet the Union Sports Minister, Kiren Rijiju and would propose to include Pencak Silat in Khelo India for brighter prospect for the youth of Northeastern states.

It may be mentioned that Nagaland Pencak Silat Association was formed on January 15, 2016 at Y Zhimo Colony, Dimapur under Faith in Action Martial Arts Academy and got affiliation from Indian Pencak Silat Federation on April 28, 2019.