LONGDING, 29 Jun: Niausa FC lifted the inaugural Shaheed Agoi Wangsa Shaurya Chakra Memorial Inter-Village Football Tournament 2026, beating Pongchau FC in the final on Monday.
The tournament was instituted to honour the supreme sacrifice and indomitable courage of Shaheed Agoi Wangsa, who was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.
Attending the closing ceremony, Longding-Pumao MLA Thangwang Wangham lauded the organising committee for conceptualising and executing a tournament of such magnitude in memory of Wangsa. He observed that the event successfully united the youths of the district and provided them with a platform to showcase local sporting talent.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting sports infrastructure and youth development in border districts.
The winning team was awarded cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, along with a trophy a certificate, while the runner-up was given Rs 50,000, along with a trophy and certificate.
Palai Wangpan of Pumao FC scored the highest 10 goals in the tournament.
Longhi Wangsa of Pongchau FC and Chemkai Poiham of Niausa FC were adjudged the best player of the tournament and the best goalkeeper, respectively.
Thirty-three football teams from different villages in Longding district participated in the tournament, which was conducted on a league-cum-knockout basis.
The tournament was inaugurated on 16 June in the presence of Longding DC Kunal Yadav, SP Dekio Gumza, village elders and public leaders.
The DC commended the initiative, saying, “Such tournaments not only commemorate our martyrs but also channel the energy of youths towards constructive and healthy pursuits.”
He urged all participating teams to uphold the decorum of the event, adhere to the rules of the game, and maintain peace and harmony both on and off the field.
The SP emphasised the significance of sportsmanship and discipline. He encouraged the youths to imbibe the values of teamwork, perseverance, and mutual respect, noting that sports serve as a vital medium for character building and community integration.
The organising committee acknowledged the support extended by the district administration, Police Department, public leaders, sponsors, village authorities, referees, volunteers, and spectators in making the event a grand success.
The tournament was planned and executed by an organising committee with Honwang Wangsuham as chairman and Panjam Wangsu as organising secretary.
