The 2nd Edition of the Badminton Tournament organised by the Feathered Friends Club (FFC), Kohima Village, concluded on Saturday evening at T Khel Indoor Stadium.
In the men’s doubles category, Thajakhriezo Innocent Keyho and Vikuozo Pienyu emerged as champions, while Khriemezo Linyü and Keneizotuo Tsiekha finished as runners-up.
In the women’s doubles category, Thepfungunuo Kire and Neitseinuo Suokhrie bagged the championship title, while Khriezetuonuo Suokhrie and Khriengusanuo Khruomo secured the second position.
The “emerging player award” in the male category award was bagged by Thejasevor Suokhrie while the female category award was bagged by Kikruvinuo Phoebe Rutsa.
The winners in the men’s doubles category were awarded a cash prize of Rs 20,000 while the runners-up received Rs 10,000.
The semi-finalist pairs Teisovise and Thejasevor, and Kezhalezo Solo and Roland Pienyü, received Rs 5,000 each.
The winners in the women’s category bagged a cash prize of Rs 10,000 while the runners-up received Rs 7,000.
Both emerging player awardees received Rs 2,000 each.
With only four teams in the women’s category against a minimum requirement of eight, only two cash prizes were awarded in that category.
The citations and cash prizes were handed over to the winners and awardees by Petevizo Peter Vizo, convenor of the tournament, and Sedevizo Zatsu, president, FFC.
FFC, which is a Kohima Village-based club consisting of badminton enthusiasts and players, conducted the competition for badminton players from the village including its club members, as a grassroots-level training ground to enable them to compete at higher levels of competition.
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Teisovise Khruomo, technical director, informed that altogether 24 men’s doubles teams competed in the tournament on a knockout basis, while 4 women’s doubles teams played on a league format.
Altogether, 30 matches were played during the three-day tournament which began on October 8.
Attending the final games as the guest of honour, Khriehu Liezietsu, former MLA of 10 Northern Angami-I A/C, recalled his tenure as a legislator and shared how he had constructed one indoor stadium each for the four Khels of Kohima Village — T Khel, D Khel, P Khel and L Khel.
Pointing out that the venue of the competition was one of those four stadiums, Liezietsu expressed happiness that the facility has been meaningfully utilized by sports enthusiasts.
He said he was delighted that not only the villagers but also people from other areas have been availing the facility, and that the stadium has become a place where strangers meet and forge friendships.
He also noted that through such platforms, sportspersons from the village have gone on to represent Kohima Village at district, state and higher levels.
Speaking on the importance of games and sports, he said some take up sports professionally, some for fitness and some organize tournaments to promote young talent, adding that all of them are equally important and valuable.
Appreciating FFC for organizing the tournament in a grand manner with all-out efforts for the love of sportspersons and spectators, Liezietsu expressed hope that everyone had a memorable time.
Reminding that winning and losing are part of games, he said he was encouraged to see all the shuttlers participate with great enthusiasm.
He further wished the finalists to display good sportsmanship and give their best, and wished everyone good health and togetherness in the days to come too.
The closing ceremony was chaired by Vikuonyü Solo, chief referee, a special number was presented by Nounengunuo Krütsü, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Sedevizo Zatsu.
