Two women from Nagaland will be representing India at the upcoming 18th Asian Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from August 18 to September 2. Jwensinle Kesen of Phenshenyu village under Tseminyu sub-division and Puleno Neikha of Viswema village under Kohima district will be representing India at the Sepaktakraw discipline.
Kesen, who is a product of State sports girl’s hostel, Dimapur, has been playing Sepaktakraw since 2012 and is currently employed as a constable in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Neikha is a Sepaktakraw instructor under the Department of Youth Resources and Sports, Nagaland. The former will represent India as a player while the latter will be the Indian Women Sepaktakraw Coach.
Nagaland Sepaktakraw Association Secretary General, Holshe Khrieo, informed that, this is the third time, players from Nagaland are participating at the Asian Games. Previously, in 2010 at the 16th Asian Games held in China, Viseyie Koso currently of Nagaland Police had become the first Naga sportsperson to participate and represent the State. At the 17th Asian Games, 2014, held in Korea, Koso and Keneileno Nakhro along with Nagaland Sepaktakraw Coach Holshe Khrieo were part of the the Indian Sepaktakraw team. Naga Olympian Chekrovolu Swuro also represented India at the 14th and 15th Asian Games at Busan and Doha respectively.
‘It is indeed a proud matter that sportspersons from our State have consistently been representing our country at the Asian Games,’ said Secretary General.