The state-level “Catch Them Young U-14 Sepaktakraw” was inaugurated today at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.

Special guest and ANPSA President, Nini Sekhose, thanked the department for organizing the tournament, stating that it had been very fruitful. She said it was very exciting to see the good performance of the students in tournaments held both within and outside the state.

She stated that ANPSA was very honored to be collaborating with the Department of Youth Resources and Sports, as never before have private schools been able to bring together so many talented young players from all over Nagaland for a sporting event.

She mentioned that while they have been bringing children together for song and other competitions, they were not able to do so for a sporting event because it required a lot of effort; but due to the initiative of the Director of the Department of Youth Resources and Sports, a dream has come true for many, and she applauded him for organizing such events for their students.

She also exhorted the students to make the most of every minute they spent in the tournament and to look out for joyful reports that they would take back to their schools and their homes. She said events like this are not just about winning trophies; they are about building character, discipline, teamwork, and confidence. She said that everyone present there are winners and that they are very fortunate to be there.

She said this is a beautiful game—fast, skillful, and full of energy—and that there is no time for dreaming in this game. She stated that it combines strength with grace and teamwork with quick thinking, and that this game teaches something very important: that success is not just about individual talent, but about how well they work together, trust one another, and stay focused under pressure.

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She said that staying focused under pressure is something very important they learn through sports.

She encouraged all the young players, stating that they are the future of sports in the community and in the state. She said that every kick, every serve, every dive they make today is a step towards something bigger, not just in sports, but in life.

She advised, “Play with all your heart. Respect your opponents, and never give up no matter what the score is, because real champions are not only the ones who lift the trophy, but the ones who keep their spirit strong, even when things don’t go their way.”

She said life is about problems, life is about victories, and life is about good and bad times. But the winners are those who succeed during the bad times, who are able to climb the mountain, even when things do not go as per their expectations.

As this sepaktakraw was a very new game for all their schools, she thanked the coaches who very wholeheartedly taught their students and are encouraging and supporting them.

She hoped this tournament would be a celebration of sportsmanship, friendship, and perseverance, of resilience no matter what the circumstances, and of seeing the silver lining wherever it may be.

Assistant Professor of Kohima Bible College, Zhapuvilie Yashü, pronounced the invocation prayer. Senior State Sports Coach, Khriehutuo Tsira, delivered the welcome address. Additional Director of Youth Resources and Sports, Megolhu Dolie, was also present.

Organized by the Department of Youth Resources and Sports in collaboration with the All Nagaland Private Schools Association (ANPSA), the two-day event has a total participation of 11 districts with 28 teams (13 girls’ teams and 15 boys’ teams).