127 players were drawn from different states of the country – Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Tripura of the Northeast India, Maharashtra and Odisha.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
With the Nagaland state giving its best hospitality to the 127 players in the fray as it hosts the 2nd All India Kungfu Federation Cup 2023 cum national All Martial Arts & title belt open championship at the Dimapur District Sports Council (DDSC) Stadium, since November 1 and culminating on Thursday evening with the title belt open championship being witness by many who thronged the venue, both the titles for men and women categories were captured by the host state, Nagaland, in an exciting and nerve wrecking matches.
Temsunungsang (31) of the host state, Nagaland, was declared the champion in the men’s category to receive the coveted belt after knocking out his opponent within few seconds after the bout started.
Not giving a chance to let her opponent snatch the title of the prestigious belt in the women category, Kivikali Chophy (22), a fifth semester student of St Joseph’s University, Sovima, Chumukedima, majoring in Business Psychology punched her way through her energetic opponent, Ranjana Rajat, of Assam, who almost matched the receiving ends of the punching and kicking prowess of Kivikali but had to bow down in defeat within the 3 minutes time frame in each round.
After being declared the winner in men’s category, the 31 years old Temsunungsang said that by winning the title he has fulfilled his childhood dream and also excited at the same time as he had prepared himself though 3 months long vigorous training right after he got the information about the tournament to held in Dimapur.
Kivikali Chophy, who faced stiff tactics from her opponent who threw punches and kicks shared that though the game to her was very new especially the bout in the ring however expressed that she was delighted to experience to be part of the competition though she said she would not be able to continue the sports as she planned to be abroad to pursue her higher studies in her chosen subject.
Attending as the guest in the closing programme of the two days sporting event, additional deputy commissioner (ADC), Dimapur, Mhalo Humtsoe, while congratulating the organizers in bringing the national tournament under their ambit and to let the residents of Dimapur witness the matches, she while congratulating the winners in all the different categories and also the participants, and the officials from outside the state has reminded them that the event represents not just about competitions but it was a celebration of the dedication, discipline, and artistry of martial arts/Kungfu.
“Whatever the audience witnessed during the matches is a show of your prowess and a culmination of years of rigorous training and unwavering commitment”, she said while also adding that as celebrating the competitors and their achievements, it is also a time to celebrate the principles of integrity and self-improvement that this art could be promoted.
She also said that she believed that the persons involved in organizing and participating in the tournament have evolved and grown to be a better human being for the values imbibed in the martial arts are not confined to the areas from where they come from or belonged to.
The ADC further went on to encourage the participants and the spectators to carry on these principles into their lives in order to make the communities safer and more harmonious.
The 127 players were drawn from different states of the country which included the host state, Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Tripura of the northeastern states of India, mainland India was represented by players from the states of Maharashtra and Orissa (Odisha), where all the competitors divided into different age groups, ranging from 25 Kgs to 60 Kgs including for women by witnessing the latter “punching” their opponents in the two days sporting event.
Attending as the special guest on the inaugural day, Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang, encouraged the young minds to excel in their future endeavors and also to fulfill their dreams by citing that the kind of the competitions is a privilege for him to witness the Naga talents, and on his behalf and the district administration, lauded the organizers for fulfilling and in organizing the national championship which is the second championship after the first tournament being held in Pune, Maharashtra, last year.
Terming that “Kungfu” is a sport which is even being introduced in schools to let the students be physically fit, the deputy commissioner, Dimapur, was also of the view that through the sport, the young minds would be able to inculcate a sense of sportsmanship thereby bringing laurels to themselves, districts, and the state as a whole.
An Israelite tourist, Yosef Shalom Megeh, who has been following the culture of the Nagas for many years, and coincidently was one of the many tourists visiting the state told this correspondent that he has experienced the many talents of the Nagas after visiting the state and that he would pass on the unique culture and tradition of the Nagas to his family members, friends, and well-wishers.