Nagaland Women Win First-Ever Regu Gold at Senior Sepaktakraw National

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review International Team | Tuesday, 3 November 2026

Nagaland’s women athletes have achieved a significant milestone in Indian sports by winning the state’s first-ever gold medal in the Regu event at the 36th Senior National Sepaktakraw Championship in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The win on November 2, 2026 was a historic one for women sports in Nagaland and, for the young women who took part in the competitive Sepaktakraw, it was a stepping stone into a brighter future in the sport.

The team played a good performance across both sets and defeated Uttar Pradesh 2–0 in the final to win the championship. The final was an evenly balanced contest as Nagaland won the first set 17–15 and the second 15–10. They won after another significant display in the semi-final, when they defeated Manipur 2-1 to take through to the final.

Key Highlights

• Nagaland women secure first-ever Regu gold at Senior Nationals
• Team defeats Uttar Pradesh 2-0 after semifinal win over Manipur
• Sezovelu Dozo, Angshan Konyak, Thujono and Seyiekhrieno Tepa lead squad

The gold medal-winning contingent comprised four players: Sezovelu Dozo, Angshan Konyak, Thujono and Seyiekhrieno Tepa. They competed under the guidance of coach Puleno Neikha, with Hopson Sumi serving as the assistant coach. Their combined effort helped Nagaland win a historic win against tough competition and thus making the state proud.

The 36th Senior National Sepaktakraw Championship started on 30th October and will end on 3rd November. The tournament is a combination of team events and Regu events (sprints) as well as Quadrant (Quad) events, and involves both men and women's teams from various states and participating units. Nagaland entered the championship with representation in both men's and women's categories, making the tournament an important opportunity for its athletes to demonstrate their competitive abilities at the national level.

According to coach Puleno Neikha, Nagaland participated in the Regu and Quadrant events in both categories. While the women's team secured the historic gold in Regu, neither the men's nor the women's teams progressed to the next stage in the Quad event. The Nagaland men's Regu team also delivered a competitive performance, reaching the quarter-finals after qualifying among the top eight teams, although it could not advance to the semi-finals.

The achievement also adds to the growing recognition of Nagaland's women in Sepaktakraw, a sport in which athletes from the state have represented India at international competitions. Earlier in August 2026, the Nagaland government announced that women players Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa had been selected for the Indian women's Sepaktakraw team at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. Coaches Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro were also selected to accompany the Indian contingent.

The selection marked the fifth consecutive Asian Games since 2010 in which Nagaland's Sepaktakraw players and coaches had represented India, reflecting the state's continued contribution to the sport.

Nagaland's maiden national gold in the women's Regu event is therefore an important addition to this sporting journey. For the four players, the victory represents the outcome of their preparation, competitive discipline and teamwork. For aspiring women athletes across the state, their achievement offers a significant example of how regional sporting talent can earn recognition on a national platform.

The medal presentation ceremony was scheduled for November 3 in Gwalior. With this historic win, the Nagaland women's team has established a new milestone in the state's sporting achievements and strengthened the visibility of women athletes in Indian Sepaktakraw.