In the winter of 2021, 33 years old Khanmongshe, a mother of four boys and one girl, took the youngest of the siblings, 6-year-old twin-brothers Shiusuthong Tikhir and Shiuthong Tikhir to Kiphire town, some 25 km away from their village Anatongre, which is in Kiphire district, Nagaland.
She had received a call from a brother who lives in Kiphire that officials from Department of Youth Resources & Sports were coming to Kiphire to conduct trials for Taekwondo and Archery.
Her efforts paid well as her twin-sons were selected to study and train at IG Sports Academy, Kohima. Within a year of training, they got selected to represent Nagaland in the National Sub-Junior Taekwondo Championships 2023 held at Cuttack, Odisha from 25 to 27 March 2023. The twins became champions with Shiusuthong winning Gold medal and Shiuthong winning silver medal.
(left to Right: Coach Santsuthung, Shiusuthong, Shiuthong, Manager Keneigulie)
The twins are the youngest of five siblings. Their elder siblings of two brothers and one sister study in Kiphire.
Khanmongshe, who partners her husband in jhum cultivation in the steep hills of Kiphire, was determined to let her very young twin-sons follow their interests and dreams; even if it meant letting them go at such a tender age.
(Credit: Kingkhu Tikhir)
Kingkhu Tikhir, aged about 38 years, the father of the twin brothers said that the boys always stayed and did things together. He added that they were very fond of martial arts and they learned playing it by watching videos in smartphone.
“It was their mother who took them for the trials in Kiphire in 2021,” said their father Kingkhu.
Their mother Khanmongshe said, “One day we got a call from my younger brother saying that officials are coming for trails and asked us to reach Kiphire the next morning”.
She added, “I took the twin-boys to Kiphire. It was a good trial. After the trial, the officials went back to Kohima saying that they will give the results later”.
According to their mother, the twin boys were eagerly awaiting the results and would discuss it with their friends in the village.
Khanmongshe said, “We finally received news of their selection and were asked to report by 13 January 2022 at Kohima. Many people took the trials but only 3 boys were selected from Kiphire out of 30-40 boys who underwent the trials”.
Visabei-u Peseyie, Taekwondo Head Coach (Nagaland), speaking to Nagaland Tribune, said that in 2021, their team of Department of Youth Resources & Sports (YR&S) had organised trials in Kiphire for Taekwondo and Archery.
He said, “Although the participants do not have formal training, we judge them and their potential by their flexibility, reactivity/instincts and their physical structure.”
He added that it was during the trials that they noticed the twin brothers and offered them to get enrolled in IG Stadium Sports Academy at Kohima.
The twin-brothers, now eight years old, along with six other teammates represented Nagaland in the 36th National Taekwondo Sub-Junior Championship 2023 at JN Indoor Stadium, Cuttack, Odisha.
Shiusuthong, the gold medallist expressed his aspiration to participate in international level. He said that was happy and satisfied to win the gold medal and said he will practice hard to get Gold medal again.
Shiuthong, silver medallist and twin brother of Shiusuthong, also said that he was happy for been given the opportunity to participate in the national championship. He added that he won the silver medal at Cuttack and that he will prepare better and target gold medal next time.
Kingkhu Tikhir, the father of the twins, speaking to Nagaland Tribune, said that he was very happy for the blessings.
He said, “We are very grateful to their Coaches, the managers and the Government”.
He said that he incurs no cost as the government is paying for their hostel and education. He said that the only thing he needed to do was visit them once in a while.
Their mother humbly thanked the officials at IG Sports Academy.
She said, “We are very happy. All that has happened is because of the efforts of the people who are taking good care of them”.
Their mother speaks fondly of her twin sons, who are the youngest in the family.
She said that their house is very empty without them at home. She said that whenever they speak over the phone, they would ask her to rest well, and would advise her not to go to the field too often.
She added, “They are very helpful to both me and their father. They would follow us everywhere. They would do all types of works like cleaning the house, chopping wood, fetching water, etc.”
According to their father, the twins are very hard working, caring and confident. They would always tell me, “Don’t worry about us. We will study well and also practice hard”.
Visabei-u Peseyie, Taekwondo Head Coach (Nagaland), said that the Department YR&S is providing all facilities and support in terms of coaching, fooding, accommodation and kits for five disciplines, namely, Taekwondo, Football, Archery, Wrestling and Boxing.
He said that regularly trials are being conducted in the districts so that the interested youngsters/children do not have to spend money to come all the way to Kohima. He said that many children with support from their parents have interests in pursuing sports as a profession.
He said that in the recent past, trials were held in Kiphire, Mon, Tuensang and Phek and that the department will continue to hold trials as per seat availability.
It is pertinent to note that Kiphire is one of the aspirational districts in the country.
In a district, in a state where opportunities are few and far, the initiatives of the government to reach out has enabled some families and some young children to believe that their dreams can become reality.
Shiusuthong and Shiuthong, the 8-year-old twin brothers are now in class IV and they have both earned green belt in Taekwondo. They have tasted success, earned laurel for the state at the national stage.
The blessings of their parents are with them. They seem to have the discipline and determination to go far.
It still is a long journey for them though, as their father said, “They have to work hard; learn and learn as they pursue their interests and find a good future without stopping”.
(Photo credit: Keneingulie, except where specifically mentioned)
Nagaland twins clinch gold and silver at National Taekwondo Sub-Junior Championship
