As a school going girl, Tsuchoi always had great interest in participating in the school annual sports week and games & sports events in village, often winning prizes. Who would have known that this young athlete hailing from a far flung place at the Indo-Myanmar border  would bring laurel to her people and beyond. At the recently concluded Northeast Olympic Games 2024 in Nagaland, 24 years old Tsuchoi bagged the title of ‘Outstanding Sportswoman’ for winning 6 medals.

Tsuchoi was born and brought up in a small village called Kusong, 2 kms away from Noklak District. Like any other village children, Tsuchoi says that she had a very normal childhood going to school and looking after her four siblings -being the eldest- with her farmer parents spending most of their days in the field. The young athlete did her schooling  up to Class 9 at Government Middle Noklak after which she moved to Dimapur pursuing her 10th Class at Government High School Purana Bazar in the year 2015.

While Tsuchoi does not recall any individual that  inspired her to take up sports, it was those times when she participated in the village and school sports events which eventually developed her interest to take up sports professional.

The year 2014 was an opening gateway for Tsuchoi when she was selected to participate at the Catch Them Young Tournament in Dimapur. At 14 years of age, Tsuchoi won the District Level Certification in athetics and Best Athletic securing first position in 3 km Inter – District competition and bagged the title of “Best Athlete”. In the same year, she  participated at East Zone held at Calcutta. The following year 2015 led to an opportunity for her to stay at the State Sports Hostel for girls in Dimapur during which she represented the State in three different events at Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand and Vishakhapatnam winning Bronze and Silver at Jharkhand during the East Zone National Athlete Championship.

This year Tsuchoi was awarded the Outstanding Sportswoman at the 3^rd North East Games 2024 for securing four Gold medals in 5000m, 10000m, mixed 4×400 relay, Women’s Cross Country Team Event and two Silver Medals in 4×400 relay and Cross Country (Individual).

‘I cannot remember much but I praise God for guiding me since childhood and also thank my parents for letting me choose what I love without any hesitation,’ says Tsuchoi.

The story behind every laurel that the young athelete from Noklak accomplished,  lies great struggles, sweats and challenges thrown along her path. Tsuchoi recalls those hard and constant training days in her early days when she first joined the Hostel until training became a habit. “In athletics, especially running every minutes and seconds count, so to reduce even a second, it takes times and energy requiring a lot of patience and a never die attitude,” maintains Tsuchoi.

Sharing the challenges of eating habits, the Noklak Athlete mentions it became a problem especially when moving from one place to another, falling sick, struggling financially and the need to balance one’s body to be fit.

“To be precise sports is expensive,’ remarks Tsuchoi. The young athlete also confided on the mental stress, especially depression that sportspersons go through because of the uncertainty in sports. “I am also worried about my future because it is not secured and I cannot play my entire life. However, I usually deal with all the problems by putting more efforts and pray fully trusting in God,” shares Tsuchoi.

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While Tsuchoi has achieved five outstanding/ best athlete in the District and State level, her most recent achievement has been a great motivation having received immense support from people. The young athlete is also optimistic that Sports is being given due importance and diligence in the State in recent years.

Till date, the  24 years old athlete from Noklak has taken part in 14 different states event and wishes to participate and win National events for Nagaland in her future endeavour.

The story of Tsuchoi continues to prove that hardwork and determination can conquer, against all odds.

PARTICIPATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS AT NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS

1. 2015, represented Nagaland in National Level Women Sports Competition at Jammu & Kashmir.
2. 2015, Bronze in 3000m and Silver in 800m medley relay during East Zone National Athlete Championship held at Jharkhand
3. 2015, 13 National Inter District Junior Athletics meet organised by Athletics Federation of India at Vishakhapatnam
4. 2016, Gold in 3000m, silver in 1500m and 4×400 relay during National Level Northeast Games Held at Imphal
5. 2016, Gold in 3000m 28 East Zone Junior Athletic Championship at Guwahati Assam.
6. 2017, silver in 1500m, Bronze in 300m East Zone held at Kolkata
7. 2017, represented Nagaland in Athletics during Khelo India held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
8. 2017, Gold in 3000m, 800m, Cross Country km, 4×400 and Silver in 4×100 relay during 1 Nagaland OlManipu
9. 2018, Gold in 10000m and 5000m, Bronze in 4x400m relay during Northeast Games held at Imphal, Manipur
10. 2022, Represented Nagaland in Athletics 5000m during 36 National Games held at Gujarat
11. 2022, Gold in 5000m, silver in 10000m and Bronze in 4x400m relay during 2 North East Olympic held at Shillong, Meghalaya
12. 2022, Second in Women 10km (team Championship) during 56 National Cross Country Athletics Championship held at Nagaland.
13. 2022, awarded OUTSTANDING SPORTSWOMAN by securing Gold in 10000m, 5000m, 1500m, 4x400m relay and 4x100m relay during Nagaland Olympic and Paralympic.
14. 2023, Awarded BEST ATHLETIC by securing Gold in 1500m and 5000m
15. 2024, awarded BEST ATHLETE (Women) by securing 4 Gold medals in 10000m 5000m, 4×100 relay and 4×400 relay during the 3^rd Nagaland Olympic & Paralympic Games held at Chümoukedima, Nagaland