The Sepaktakraw competition under the Nagaland State & Para Games (NSPG) 2026 commenced at the Multi Discipline Stadium, Sovima, Chumoukedima on November 12 with an opening ceremony organised by the Nagaland Sepaktakraw Association (NASTA) in collaboration with the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA).
Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima, Polan John, NCS, attended the opening ceremony as the special guest. He highlighted Nagaland’s growing achievements in Sepaktakraw and encouraged young athletes to pursue sporting excellence through discipline, dedication and perseverance.
Expressing happiness over the growing participation of athletes from different districts, the Deputy Commissioner observed that the maximum participation recorded this year reflected the enthusiasm, discipline and sporting spirit among the youth. He also expressed pride over the achievements of Nagaland’s women players, who have excelled not only at the state and national levels but also on the international stage.
Describing Sepaktakraw as a sport requiring extraordinary agility, sharp focus, teamwork and relentless dedication, he briefly highlighted its historical origins in Southeast Asia, noting that the modern form of the game developed through the introduction of the net system and was subsequently established as Sepaktakraw.
Tracing the journey of the sport in Nagaland, he stated that Sepaktakraw was introduced in the state in 1994 by the present state coach, Paul Shakhrie, who later obtained his NIS diploma and was appointed as the first Sepaktakraw coach under the Youth Resources and Sports Department in 2003. Through the pioneering efforts of Nungsang Aier, late R Ketsore Mekro and others, the Nagaland Sepaktakraw Association was subsequently formed with the support of SAI Dimapur and the Youth Resources and Sports Department.
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Encouraging the players, he highlighted three important pillars of sporting success: discipline over talent, resilience in defeat, and unity and respect. He reminded the athletes that victories are achieved through countless hours of practice and commitment, often when nobody is watching, and urged them to win with humility, accept defeat with grace and always play with determination.
He also extended appreciation to the Nagaland Olympic Association and the Youth Resources and Sports Department for organising the Nagaland State and Para Games 2026, providing a platform for sportspersons from different disciplines and districts to showcase their abilities and talents.
On behalf of Chümoukedima district, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity and wished all participating athletes the very best, encouraging them to aim high, lead with confidence and let their passion shine.
President of NASTA, Ruokuo Kire, delivered the welcome address and also congratulated the women coaches and players for their outstanding performance in securing gold medals at the National Championship held in Madhya Pradesh.
Encouraging the participating athletes, he urged them to compete with determination, to respect their opponents and to uphold the spirit of fair play, emphasising that character demonstrated in both victory and defeat is equally important.
Appreciation was also extended to the technical officials, referees, coaches and organising committee, particularly those based in Dimapur, for their commitment towards making the event possible. The Nagaland Olympic Association and concerned authorities were also acknowledged for their continued support in promoting sports in the state.
Kire also expressed confidence that through unity, commitment and collective efforts, Sepaktakraw in Nagaland would continue to reach greater heights, while wishing all participating teams and athletes a successful and memorable competition.
The ceremony also featured the felicitation of participants of the Asian Games Japan 2026 by General Secretary of NASTA, Holshe Khrieo. This was followed by greetings from the special guest and an oath-taking ceremony administered by Sepaktakraw coach, Hopson Sumi.
The special guest formally declared the Sepaktakraw competition under NSPG 2026 open, and the programme began with an invocation by Nungsang Aier, former president of NASTA.
