The 46th Evergreen Open Volleyball Tournament organised by Evergreen Club Ungma village got underway at Soyim Aonglenden, Ungma Mokokchung with Zalie Neikha, Advisor of Youth Resources & Sports, Govt of Nagaland gracing the occasion as the guest of honour and Sharingain Longkumer, Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly as the chief host on 15 December.

Zalie Neika while delivering his speech stated that the Evergreen Club organising the tournament for the 46th time is a great achievement and, in some years, it will be celebrating its jubilee.

He appreciated the sacrifice and efforts of the club pioneers and the present club members.

He addressed Ungma village as an advanced village and along with Mokokchung called it as the ‘Land of Pioneers’.

Neikha acknowledged the Ao community for its advancement in religion and politics, and producing bureaucrats and sportspersons among the Nagas.

Taking the example of Dr T Ao who in 1948 led the National football team in the Olympics as the captain and was also the flag bearer of the Indian contingent, Neikha encouraged the players to reflect upon the historical achievements and strive towards serious participation in the profession.

Zalie Neikha, Advisor of Youth Resources & Sports, Govt of Nagaland speaking at the event.

He motivated the players gathered for the tournament to take up team work as an important strategy.

He appreciated youth participation and improvement in the sporting field and appreciated the state’s performance in the recent North East Olympics where the team brought home 79 medals compared to the previous game in Manipur where Nagaland won only 40 medals. Neikha said this was a great achievement.

He mentioned that 26 Aonglenden AC particularly Ungma village has produced many great and profound leaders and appreciated the villagers gathered for this, while encouraging them to continue producing good leaders.

Sharingain Longkumer, Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly speaking at the event.

Chief Host, Sharingain Longkumer in his speech congratulated the Evergreen Club on 46 years of achievement. He appreciated the founding members and also the successors of the club for their genuine efforts by encouraging and nurturing the youths through the game of Volleyball.

“Every sport helps in building character”, Longkumer said and pointed out that team work, leadership, discipline and consistency are the characteristics of a sportsperson.

He said these qualities are essential in building character of a person which defines success and failure at a later point in life. Therefore, he encouraged the gathering to work together in building the youths of the future through sports.

The first match was played between Changtongya Volleyball Association and Longtrok Senden Ungma where the former won the match with a score line of 25 :19, 25 :19 in straight two sets in the best of three.

The championship title carries a cash prize of Rs 60,000 with a trophy and certificates. The runner-up will be awarded Rs 30,000 with certificates while the semi-finalists will receive Rs 10,000 each.

The tournament will also have three individual prizes: Best Spiker, Best Setter and Player of the tournament. All individual winners will receive Rs 5,000 each.

Altogether 13 teams from all over the state are participating at the tournament.

The inaugural programme was chaired by Limasenla Jamir, Rev M Toshi Jamir, Associate Pastor, UBA pronounced the invocation while welcome address was delivered by Nokzenketba Lkr, President, EGC and Exhortation by Imtidongba Jamir, Ungma Village Council.

A special number was presented by Merenkala Imsong.