The 67th Kohima Village Sports Association (KVSA) Meet 2026 is scheduled to be held from January 10 to January 16 at six different venues across Kohima hosted by Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO).
Addressing media persons at Khuochiezie, Kohima Local Ground, KVYO president , Er Medozhazo Rutsa stated that the KVSA, founded in 1944, has completed 82 years. He said the forthcoming edition will be organised as a major multi-sport event, bringing together athletes and spectators from across Kohima Village.
He informed that the theme of the 67th KVSA Meet, “Kevimerü”, has been chosen to promote unity among the people of Kohima Village and to inspire shared hope and progress. The mascot for the meet is the Great Indian Barbet, selected for its vibrant colours and distinctive call, symbolizing energy, resilience and harmony with nature. Commonly found in the forests of Kohima and Nagaland, the bird represents the close connection between sports, the environment and community life, while its echoing call signifies unity, strength and the celebration of local identity.
The meet will include competitions in athletics, cricket, football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, badminton, shooting and wrestling. Athletics events will be conducted at IG Stadium, Rüleizou, and Khuochiezie (Kohima Local Ground).
Cricket matches would be played at Meriema Village Ground, while football fixtures would take place at IG Stadium, Rüleizou. Volleyball and basketball matches would be held at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Ground, Kohima. Table tennis and badminton competitions would be organized at the State Indoor Stadium, Thegabakha. The 10-metre air rifle shooting events would be conducted at Seikhazou Indoor Stadium, Kohima Village, while Naga wrestling would take place at Khuochiezie, Kohima Local Ground.
The inaugural programme is scheduled for January 10 at 10 am. The ceremonial torch lighting would commence at Thevokemouzie, L Khel, following which the torch would be carried by sportspersons to Khuochiezie and handed over to the reigning best male and female athletes of the 66th KVSA Meet.
The torch would then be passed to the wrestling champion of the 66th KVSA Meet, who, along with the athletes, would lead the lighting of the cauldron to formally mark the opening of the 67th KVSA Meet.
The organisers have extended an invitation to all citizens of Kohima, young and old, to attend the inaugural programme and be part of the event.
Rutsa announced that a total of 124 medals would be awarded, including 53 gold, 53 silver and 38 bronze medals, with overall prize money amounting to Rs 13 lakh.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.news.nagalandtribune< Hyperlink >
The meet would be conducted across nine disciplines and is an open event, featuring competitions in both men’s and women’s categories, except for wrestling and cricket. Wrestling and the cross-country race would be held on the concluding day, January 16.
An additional rule has been introduced in football this year, mandating that two under-19 players must be on the field throughout the full 90 minutes of each match.
The chief host of the meet would be Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, Advisor for School Education, SCERT, while the guest of honour on the concluding day would be Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhetso, MLA, 9 Kohima Town AC.
Elaborating on the prize structure, Rutsa said that for individual athletics events in both men’s and women’s categories, prize money would be Rs 7,000 for gold, Rs 5,000 for silver and Rs 3,000 for bronze, along with citations and the mascot. Relay events would carry prize money of Rs 10,000 for gold and Rs 5,000 for silver. In football, the champions would receive Rs 40,000 and the runners-up Rs 25,000, while cricket champions would also receive Rs 40,000 and runners-up Rs 25,000. Volleyball and basketball champions in both men’s and women’s categories would be awarded Rs 30,000, with Rs 15,000 for the runners-up.
In badminton, the team event champions will receive Rs 20,000, while the runners-up will receive Rs 15,000. For singles events in both men’s and women’s categories, gold medalists would receive Rs 7,000 and silver medalists Rs 5,000. Doubles and mixed doubles events would carry prize money of Rs 10,000 for gold and Rs 5,000 for silver. In table tennis, the team event would award Rs 20,000 for gold and Rs 15,000 for silver, while individual men’s events would carry Rs 7,000 for gold and Rs 5,000 for silver. Doubles events would award Rs 10,000 for gold and Rs 5,000 for silver. In the 10-metre air rifle shooting event, prize money would be Rs 7,000 for gold, Rs 5,000 for silver and Rs 3,000 for bronze.
For wrestling, individual events would carry prize money of Rs 60,000 for gold, Rs 40,000 for silver, Rs 30,000 for bronze and Rs 20,000 for fourth place. The wrestling team event would award Rs 30,000 for first position and Rs 20,000 for second. A point-based system has also been introduced in wrestling, with Rs 300 awarded per point, up to a maximum of nine points across three rounds. In addition, Rs 10,000 will be awarded for each new KVSA meet record, while the overall best male and female athletes will receive Rs 50,000 each.
Rutsa highlighted that one of the major highlights of this year’s meet is the reopening of Kohima Local Ground, which had remained unused for the past three years, marking a positive development for sports enthusiasts in the capital.
He further informed that an estimated 650 to 700 participants, including coaches and managers, are expected to take part, with the total number likely to increase to around 900. Approximately 150 to 175 participants are expected from each khel.
Preparations and coaching camps are currently underway at various venues, including IG Stadium, Seikhazou, Christ King and Mission Compound.
He also noted the progress achieved through previous coaching initiatives, stating that three women players are currently part of the state cricket team, while two women shooters recently represented Nagaland at the national level. One of them has already been selected as a shooter eligible to participate directly in national competitions without undergoing trials.
