Zunheboto Wushu Sanda team retains title at Nagaland State & Para Games 2026

CHÜMOUKEDIMA – The Zunheboto Wushu Sanda team has emerged overall champion at the Nagaland State & Para Games 2026, defending its title for the second consecutive time with three gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Host district Chümoukedima finished second with two gold, two silver and two bronze.

The results were set out in a write-up on the championship seen by Nagaland.News. Mokokchung’s Bendangkokba Imsong and Peren’s Nisa Rai were named the Best Fighters in the men’s and women’s categories.

How the Zunheboto Wushu Sanda team won the title

All three of Zunheboto’s gold medals came in the men’s middle weights. Niuka Chophi won the 60 kg category, Phongmei took gold in the 65 kg division and Vihuto Sema won the 70 kg category.

Zunheboto’s two silver and two bronze medals settled the standings against Chümoukedima, which matched it on silver and bronze but won one gold fewer. The names of the silver and bronze medallists were not included in the write-up.

Chümoukedima’s golds came from Kivikali H Chophy in the women’s 70 kg category and Wilson in the men’s 56 kg division.

Best Fighter awards and Wushu Sanda gold medallists

Bendangkokba Imsong of Mokokchung was adjudged Best Fighter in the men’s category after winning the 75 kg gold. Nisa Rai of Peren received the women’s Best Fighter award after taking gold in the 60 kg division. Tseminyu district was named Best Discipline Team.

The gold medallists in the girls’ (women’s) category were:

• 52 kg: Anevino (Peren)
• 56 kg: Bwensinsha Seb (Tseminyu)
• 60 kg: Nisa Rai (Peren)
• 65 kg: Nukshikala Jamir (Mokokchung)
• 70 kg: Kivikali H Chophy (Chümoukedima)

The gold medallists in the men’s category were:

• 48 kg: Katwang Y (Mon)
• 52 kg: Mankho T Konyak (Mon)
• 56 kg: Wilson (Chümoukedima)
• 60 kg: Niuka Chophi (Zunheboto)
• 65 kg: Phongmei (Zunheboto)
• 70 kg: Vihuto Sema (Zunheboto)
• 75 kg: Bendangkokba Imsong (Mokokchung)
• 80 kg: Vito Chishi (Niuland)

80 athletes from across Nagaland

The Wushu (Sanda) championship began on Friday, November 13, at the K. Kire IPS Indoor Badminton Stadium in Chümoukedima. It drew 80 athletes, 15 of them girls, who competed across a range of weight categories.

The write-up lists 12 participating districts: Kohima, Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Peren, Zunheboto, Mon, Tuensang, Shamator, Noklak, Mokokchung, Niuland and Phek. Tseminyu, which won a gold medal and the Best Discipline Team award, also took part, although it is not named in that list.

Sanda is the full-contact fighting form of wushu, combining punches, kicks and throws. Wushu was one of seven disciplines in the second phase of the Games, held in Chümoukedima and Dimapur from November 9 to 14, with athletes from all 17 districts of the state taking part, The Morung Express reported citing the Nagaland Olympic Association.

The Zunheboto Wushu Sanda team’s title comes after the district’s football supporters drew praise for cleaning the stadium during the Dr T Ao Trophy.