Naga Wrestling is one of the oldest traditional Indian sports. This is a form of wrestling in India that was invented and popularised in the Indian state of Nagaland. The people of Nagaland enjoy playing and watching the game very much, and the authorities organise regular inter-village wrestling championships in the state, every year. The game has later gained popularity in the national level in India also and in the modern times, national championships are being organised on a regular basis.
In Naga Wrestling, the participants begin by catching the other contestant`s waist belt. Once the referee signals the start of a game, the two competitors try their level best to discard each other. The wrestlers can do it by using a number of tricks. They can use their legs and also muscular force. However, though holding the opponent`s leg with using hands is not permissible in Naga Wrestling, one can use his hands to hold the other parts of the opponent`s body, beginning from the waist and going further up. The wrestler, who becomes successful to throw the opponent to the ground, is declared as the winner of the match. However, the wrestler must ensure that the trunk of the opponent has touched the ground.
The competitors in a Naga Wrestling match should always be careful that his trunk does not touch the ground. According to the rules of the game, if a player is in a kneeling position with his knees and hand in contact with the ground, he loses the bout. A Naga Wrestling match comprises three rounds to decide the winner. The Naga Wrestling is quite famous among the tribes of Nagaland, especially among the tribes like Angami, Chakhesang, Zeliang, Rengma and Mao. The people of Nagaland has also been organising a Wrestling Championship since 1961, to promote peace and unity among the people. The Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) is working relentlessly to preserve and promote Naga Wrestling, and it is also affiliated to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
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