“Triumphant Strikes: Nagaland’s Rising Stars Shine at National Taekwondo Championship”
The Nagaland Taekwondo Association showcased its talents at the 40th Senior National Taekwondo Championship in Pondicherry from October 18-20, 2024. An 18-member team, comprising eight boys and seven girls, alongside three officials, represented Nagaland under the leadership of Senior Team Coach T. Alem Aier, Team Coach Santsuthung Ngullie, and Team Manager Keneingulie.
Highlighting their achievements, Malika Baruah clinched a bronze medal in the girls’ under 53 kg category. She demonstrated exceptional skill by overcoming competitors from West Bengal, the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI), and Madhya Pradesh, before narrowly missing out in a semifinal match against Chandigarh.
The championship also doubled as a qualification event for the National Games scheduled for January 2025 in Uttarakhand. Both Malika Boruah in the under 53 kg category and Dipika Hazarika in the under 46 kg category secured their spots for the upcoming games. Notably, both athletes are part of the Assam Rifles Cadres and currently serve at the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School (ARTC&S) in Sukhovi.
The athletes expressed their sincere appreciation to the Nagaland Taekwondo Association (NTA) for the substantial support provided during their preparations. This included a month-long coaching camp led by a Korean coach, an effort that significantly contributed to their performance.
Team officials extended special thanks to Pele Khezhie, President of the NTA, Kethosituo Sekhose, NCS, Director of Youth Resources and Sports Nagaland, Visabiu Peseyie, State Taekwondo Coach, and the Commanding Officer of Assam Rifles, Sukhovi, along with the supportive staff of Assam Rifles.
This participation not only marked an achievement for the team but also spotlighted the supportive network and training facilities that bolstered Nagaland’s presence and success in the national sports arena.
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