Mokokchung: 1st Nagaland Open Basketball Tournament begins

Mokokchung: The championship is organised by the Basketball Association Mokokchung District (BAMD) in collaboration with the Nagaland Basketball Association (NBA)

BY | Wednesday, 14 December, 2022
The Organising Committee with special guest Sentinungsang Longkumer.

The 1st Nagaland Open Basketball Championship got underway with seven teams participating at Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Basketball Court, Mokokchung on 13 December.

The championship is organised by the Basketball Association Mokokchung District (BAMD) in collaboration with the Nagaland Basketball Association (NBA).

Sentinungsang Longkumer, general secretary of the Nagaland Basketball Association, graced the occasion as the special guest.

Longkumer appreciated the seven teams participating in the first ever Nagaland Open Basketball Tournament. He also appreciated the BAMD for its speedy formation and getting affiliated to the NBA. He lauded the BAMD for organising such an event when it was needed and believed that such events would lead to productive talents.

He stated that the NBA had been stagnant but in the recent times, he said efforts were being made to go further at the northeast level and the national level in the immediate future.

He also announced that the NBA is planning to promote basketball in the state through various inter-school basketball tournaments, under-14 and under-16.

Sentinungsang Longkumer, general secretary of the Nagaland Basketball Association.

He asserted three objectives of the NBA to foster basketball in the state. He said good referees and coaches with good infrastructures are required to meet the needs of the objectives projected. Quality coaches who have good knowledge of the game and give a fair conduct of the game are required, he asserted.

He stated that only two coaches for basketball are available which would not suffice the needs of the whole state. Thereby, he encouraged the BAMD to look into the matter by producing quality coaches and come forward with the enthusiasm to strive forward in excellence.

Taking the example of the best teams of northeast from Mizoram, he said the Nagaland state could also do well if only effort is made.

Longkumer further encouraged the BAMD to work in unity. He also advised the players to not only achieve the laurels but also make a career out of such initiatives taking place.

Altogether, seven teams are participating in the tournament with five teams from Kohima and two teams from Mokokchung district.

The match officials are James, Henry and Franke from Meghalaya and Marmayang, Achetla and Imkumnaro from Nagaland.

The first match was played between Team Coyotes (Mokokchung) and Team Orca (Kohima) where Team Orca emerged victorious.

A special number was presented by Imkumnaro who represented the Women Basketball team from Mokokchung district this year at the 1st Nagaland Olympics.

The program was compered by Temsutoshi while Limawati Jamir, Asso Pastor Youth, Impur pronounced the invocation.

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