Nagaland CM Rio bets on sports to drive jobs, sends off Asian Games sepaktakraw team
Synopsis
For the fifth straight Asian Games since 2010, Nagaland's sepaktakraw players will represent India — this time at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. CM Neiphiu Rio used the send-off to frame sports not just as competition but as an employment engine, signalling a policy shift toward treating athletic development as economic strategy in one of India's most under-resourced states.
Key Takeaways
CM Neiphiu Rio addressed a send-off for Nagaland's 20th Asian Games contingent on 24 August in Chumoukedima .
Women players Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa , and coaches Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro will represent India in Women's Sepaktakraw .
The 20th Asian Games run from 19 September to 4 October 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
This is the fifth consecutive Asian Games since 2010 featuring Nagaland's sepaktakraw representatives.
Rio highlighted that Nagaland has produced three Olympians despite past infrastructure constraints.
The state government is investing in grassroots infrastructure to make sports a source of youth employment .
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday, 24 August declared that sports hold significant potential to generate employment and drive youth development in the state, as his government works to strengthen infrastructure and build a grassroots sports ecosystem. The remarks came at a send-off ceremony for Nagaland's representatives to the 20th Asian Games, Japan 2026, held at the Conference Room of the Nagaland Cricket Association in Chumoukedima.
Nagaland's Asian Games contingent
Four individuals from Nagaland — women players Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa, and coaches Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro — have been selected as part of the Indian Women's Sepaktakraw Team for the Games. The 20th Asian Games are scheduled from 19 September to 4 October 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What CM Rio said
Addressing the gathering, Rio congratulated the players and coaches on earning the opportunity to represent India. He noted that Nagaland had produced three Olympians despite historically inadequate infrastructure, and said the state's journey in sport had been remarkable — securing affiliation with the Olympic movement only four decades after attaining statehood. He added that the achievements of Nagaland's sportspersons carried a responsibility to motivate the younger generation.
Rio assured the contingent of continued state government support and urged Nagaland's youth to pursue sports with commitment and aim to represent both the state and the country at the highest levels.
A milestone for Nagaland sepaktakraw
This selection marks the fifth consecutive Asian Games since 2010 in which Nagaland's sepaktakraw players and coaches have represented India — a streak that underscores the state's quiet dominance in the sport at the national level. Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), noted that sepaktakraw had consistently delivered medals at national and international events.
Building the sports ecosystem
Metha credited Rio's guidance for advances in sports infrastructure and described the send-off as a significant moment for Nagaland. He highlighted ongoing improvements in facilities and the broader development of the state's sports ecosystem as evidence that the government's commitment was translating into results on the ground.
With the Asian Games less than a month away, all eyes will be on Tsukru, Tepa, Neikha, and Puro as they carry Nagaland's colours to Aichi-Nagoya — and on whether the state's grassroots push can sustain this pipeline of talent for years to come.
Point of View
Which may help unlock larger central allocations. The real test is whether the infrastructure push moves beyond send-off rhetoric into verifiable facility upgrades and athlete stipends. Producing Olympians despite inadequate infrastructure is a story of individual resilience, not systemic success — and that distinction matters for policy design.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is representing Nagaland at the 20th Asian Games 2026?
Women players Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa, along with coaches Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro, will represent Nagaland as part of the Indian Women's Sepaktakraw Team at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
When and where are the 20th Asian Games being held?
The 20th Asian Games are scheduled from 19 September to 4 October 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What is sepaktakraw and why is Nagaland strong in it?
Sepaktakraw is a Southeast Asian sport that combines elements of volleyball and football, played with a rattan ball using the feet, knees, chest, and head. Nagaland has fielded players and coaches at every Asian Games since 2010, making this their fifth consecutive appearance representing India.
What did CM Neiphiu Rio say about sports and employment in Nagaland?
Rio said sports hold significant potential to generate employment and promote youth development, and that the state government is actively working to strengthen infrastructure and build a grassroots sports ecosystem. He also noted that Nagaland has produced three Olympians despite past infrastructure challenges.
What is the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN)?
IDAN is a state body chaired by Abu Metha, who also serves as Advisor to the Chief Minister. Metha highlighted IDAN's role in supporting sports infrastructure development and described the Asian Games selection as a reflection of the state government's commitment to sports.
