Khelo India Centre for boxing inaugurated in Wokha

The Khelo India Centre for boxing was inaugurated by Y. Mhonbemo Humtsoe, MLA on Thursday at the Police Reserve, DEF Wokha. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Humtsoe expressed his gratitude to the Department of Youth Resources and Sports for establishing a boxing centre in Wokha, stating that the Khelo India Centre is an initiative of the Government of India, aimed at fostering all-round development. He expressed hope that it would produce talented boxers and extended his best wishes to the 34 trainees enrolled at the centre and wished them luck.

Humtsoe assured his support in promoting the centre and attracting participants from other districts and also assured to support and promote the centre in every possible way during his tenure as an MLA. He encouraged the youth to focus on sports in addition to government jobs, noting that sports professionals are among the highest-paid and can build successful careers. He emphasized that Wokha has no shortage of talented individuals in sports and highlighted the increasing number of sports disciplines available today, urging individuals to participate and excel in their preferred games. He further urged the youngsters to make full use of the centre and bring laurels to the district.

SP Wokha Aotula Imchen while thanking the Youth Resources and Sports Department for bringing the boxing centre to the district, stated that the centre is open to all interested in boxing and highlighted that this is the first boxing centre in Wokha.

Imchen explained that the Khelo India Centre is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Superintendent of Police and the Department of Youth Resources and Sports for a period of four years. “If the centre performs well and produces national and international players, it will be upgraded to a Centre of Excellence”, she said. Imchen encouraged the youth to dedicate themselves to sports and compete at state, national, and international levels to make the district proud.

District Youth Resources and Sports Officer Wokha, K Libemo Jami, stated that the Khelo India Centre aims to nurture sporting talents at the grassroots level by providing training and coaching. He highlighted that boxing offers many opportunities for young people and informed that 34 young trainees, including 16 girls and 18 boys, are currently enrolled at the centre. Jami urged the citizens of Wokha to take advantage of the facilities provided and make the best use of them.

The programme also featured an exhibition match between professional boxers Ejanbemo Kikon and Johnny Lotha, overseen by KIC boxing coach Kuchohu Curha. The event was chaired by District Youth Resource Officer Libemo Jami, with an invocation by pastor Police Baptist Church Wokha, Zuben Ngullie, and a vote of thanks was delivered by SDPO Wokha, Sangthing Khiam.