In an interesting twist, a wrestler from a non-wrestling community of Nagaland will be competing in the 2nd Chakhesang Open Naga Wrestling Championship 2022, which is scheduled to be held this Friday in Pfutsero, Phek district.
Sentilong Imchen, 22, hails from Mongchen village in Mokokchung district but the love for the sport was embedded in him when he was seven or eight years old. He reminisces about the days when his late father would take him to watch Naga wrestling tournaments in Kohima.
Sentilong says he grew up wrestling with his Tenyimia friends in Kohima and that with time, he started to take the sports seriously.
Naga wrestling is a traditional sport for a handful of Naga tribes. It is practised by the Tenyimia tribes of Angami, Chakhesang and Zeliangrong of Nagaland and by the Mao, Maram and Poumai tribes of Manipur.
Imchen, from Ao community, undertook basic training on Naga wrestling and participated in the recently concluded NagaWrestleMania 2022 organised by 3E Nagaland, which he said was a great experience.
Standing 5’7 tall and weighing 75kg, Imchen is determined to train harder and compete in every wrestling tournament in the coming days.
For now, Sentilong Imchen is headed to Pfutsero where he will meet his favourite wrestlers Venuzo Dawhuo and Vekutho Soho.
Read more: Date for 2nd Chakhesang Open Naga Wrestling Championship 2022 announced
The 2nd Chakhesang Open Naga Wrestling Championship 2022 is being organised by the Chakhesang Wrestling Association (CWA).
The organisers have announced that six wrestlers from mainland India, three from Karnataka, three from Delhi and one from Senapati, Manipur have confirmed their participation.
The Champion will receive a cash prize of Rs 2,00,000, the 2nd runner-up will be awarded Rs 1,00,000 and the 3rd and 4th runner-up will receive Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively. The quarter-finalists will also be awarded with Rs 10,000 each.
