The Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) has announced the launch of ‘Urban Challenge: Inter-Colony Sports Meet’, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at bringing together residents of the city’s 97 colonies through traditional and indigenous sporting activities.
The two-day event is tentatively scheduled for November 20 and 21, with November 20 proposed as the opening day, subject to any unforeseen changes.
Addressing media persons in Dimapur on Friday, DUCCF president, Zasivikho Zakiesato said preparations were underway in full swing for the event, which would feature six indigenous games instead of conventional sporting disciplines such as football and cricket.
The competitions will include tug of war for men and women, bamboo stilt race, nail hitting for women, spear target hitting, wood cutting with a hand saw and rooster fight.
Zakiesato said the initiative was conceived to create a common platform where residents of different colonies could interact, participate in collective activities and strengthen community bonds. While Dimapur hosts various programmes and seasonal festivals, he observed that the city lacked a regular event that brought together all its urban colonies under one platform.
He said the guidelines and participation formats would be circulated to all 97 colonies within two to three working days. Thereafter, respective colony councils would conduct trials, select participants and submit their teams for the meet. There would be no age restriction for participation, he added.
Acknowledging the support extended by MLA and Advisor, H Tovihoto Ayemi and MLA and Advisor Moatoshi Longkumer, Zakiesato said their assistance had helped the federation address logistical challenges and take the initiative forward.
He informed that a 17-member core committee, comprising individuals from different professional backgrounds, had been constituted to plan and execute the event. Entrepreneur and music industry professional, Asalie Peseyie is the convener of the committee, which also includes young entrepreneurs and representatives of the Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO).
Urging all colonies to participate enthusiastically, Zakiesato appealed to them to select their best competitors for the six events. He said attractive cash prizes would be awarded, although the prize amounts were being kept under wraps for now.
He expressed hope that the prize money would also bring some festive cheer to the families of the winners during Christmas.
Core committee convener, Asalie Peseyie said Urban Challenge was envisioned as a major community initiative that would unite people across tribal, community and religious lines, reflecting Dimapur’s identity as a cosmopolitan city.
He said the decision to focus on indigenous-themed games was also intended to reconnect residents with their cultural heritage while encouraging healthy interaction and positive community engagement through sports.
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Drawing a comparison with Scotland’s Highland Games, Peseyie said the organisers hoped to develop Urban Challenge from a local inter-colony sports meet into a major annual attraction for Dimapur. The objective, he said, was to make it a permanent fixture on the city’s calendar, bringing residents together year after year.
He acknowledged the contribution of the 17 core committee members, who were voluntarily offering their time and expertise, and appealed to the media and public to extend their support to the initiative.
Responding to queries, Peseyie said the organisers expected around 80 to 85 of the 97 colonies to participate. With each colony likely to field approximately 20 to 25 participants across the six disciplines, the meet could draw thousands of competitors, apart from residents expected to turn up to cheer their respective teams.
Zakiesato clarified that the participation guidelines would specify the number of competitors required for each game, while the respective colony councils would be responsible for selecting their teams. He reiterated that cash prizes would be offered but declined to disclose the amounts at this stage.
A representative of DAYO, which is part of the core committee, said the organisation would assist with volunteers and on-ground management. More than 100 volunteers had already been mobilised to help with crowd control, traffic coordination, VIP ushering and stage management.
The representative said a coordination meeting had also been held with officials from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Commissioner of Police’s office and Traffic Department. The organisation appealed to the district administration and police to extend their cooperation to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the event.
The organisers expressed hope that Urban Challenge would evolve into an annual community tradition, providing a platform for friendly competition, cultural preservation and stronger ties among Dimapur’s diverse colonies.
