Nagaland athletes selected for Indian Women’s Sepaktakraw Team

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio held a send-off ceremony on August 24 for four representatives selected for the Indian Women’s Sepaktakraw Team. The contingent will compete in the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

The selected group includes players Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa, alongside coaches Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro. This marks the fifth consecutive Asian Games where Nagaland has had representation in sepaktakraw.

During the ceremony, Rio emphasized the importance of discipline, dedication, and determination, suggesting these qualities could help athletes progress toward the Olympic level. He noted that while the state has faced infrastructure and political challenges in the past, the government is working to improve the sporting ecosystem to nurture grassroots talent.