Send-off ceremony for representatives to 20th Asian Games held
REGIONAL: A send-off ceremony for Nagaland’s representatives to the 20th Asian Games scheduled for September 19 to October 4, 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, took place at the Nagaland Cricket Association in Chumoukedima Monday. The team includes women players Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa alongside coaches Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro, who were selected for the Indian Women’s Sepaktakraw Team.
Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio congratulated the athletes underlining that their talent and dedication have earned them this prestigious opportunity. He highlighted the importance of dedication, discipline and determination in sports asserting that such consistency is vital for reaching Olympic levels.
Dr Rio opined that despite past infrastructure challenges, Nagaland has produced three Olympians and he assured ongoing government support for sports development aiming to improve infrastructure and nurture talent from grassroots levels.
Advisor Abu Metha commended the Chief Minister's support for enhancing the sports ecosystem in Nagaland and marked the occasion as significant for the state. He referenced Sepaktakraw’s historic success in bringing medals at various competitions and encouraged the athletes to aim for higher goals, including future Commonwealth Games and Olympic participation.
This selection represents the fifth consecutive Asian Games participation for Nagaland’s Sepaktakraw representatives since 2010.