The cheers were deafening, the stakes high and yet, in the eye of the storm, three young girls from Nagaland found their calm.
Inside the BSAP Indoor Hall, the Sepak Takraw girls doubles final at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar had all the makings of a one-sided show. Bihar had the crowd, the confidence and the opening game in the bag. But what it didn’t have was the heart of Vikhosanu, Meyonu, and Thujono.
Down but not out, the Naga team rallied. Point by point, game by game, it clawed back, turning the home fans raucous support to silence, its hope into disbelief. The second game was its. The third? The Naga team made it a veritable tug-of-war after trailing 4-11 at one stage.
It pulled level at 13-13 and it felt like time stood still. And then, just like that, two clutch points and an eruption of tears, joy and disbelief. What followed was grit, poise and two perfectly-timed points. Gold belonged to Nagaland.
Products of the Dimapur State Sports Academy, Vikhosanu (15) and Meyonu (13) are paternal cousins, while Thujono (16) also trains under the same coach Holshe Khrieo. Sparked by YouTube videos of its idol Sezovelu Dozo, the trio started taking interest in the sport and the rest is history.
“Frankly speaking, we didn’t expect gold, but our girls played really well. Credit to them for keeping their calm when it mattered the most. It was a really close encounter, and could have been anyone’s match, but the way it unfolded, I am proud of my girls,” said an elated Dziesebeinuo Vizo, Nagaland’s Chef-de-Mission.
