Nagaland’s growing influence in Indian Sepaktakraw will receive another major spotlight at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with four women from the state selected to be part of India’s contingent.
The four representatives are Menenu Tsukru, Seyiekhrieno Tepa, Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro. Tsukru and Tepa have earned places as players in the Indian women’s team, while Neikha and Puro will contribute as coaches.
The selection is more than an individual achievement. It underlines Nagaland’s sustained contribution to a sport in which athletes from the state have steadily established themselves at national and international competitions.
Four representatives, two different roles
Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa will have the responsibility of competing for India on the court. Both have already gained valuable international experience and have been part of successful Indian teams.
Their recent performances provide an indication of the quality they bring to the national side. At the 2025 Sepaktakraw World Cup in Patna, Tsukru was part of the Indian women’s team that won silver in the Quad event and bronze in Doubles, while Tepa was involved in India’s bronze-winning Regu campaign.
On the coaching side, Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro will be part of the Indian women’s setup. Their inclusion gives Nagaland representation not only among the athletes but also in the team’s support structure.
A record of medals behind the selection
Nagaland’s Sepaktakraw story has been built through consistent performances rather than a single breakthrough.
At the 2023 National Games in Goa, the Nagaland women’s team won silver and bronze medals in the team events. Menenu Tsukru, Seyiekhrieno Tepa and other Naga players were part of that campaign.
The same year, Nagaland’s players made an even bigger impression at the 36th King’s Cup World Sepaktakraw Championship in Thailand. Five Naga women eventually returned with a combined haul of six medals — two silver and four bronze. Menenu Tsukru won silver, while Seyiekhrieno Tepa was among the bronze-medal winners.
India’s progress in the sport has also accelerated. At the 2025 Sepaktakraw World Cup, the Indian contingent collected seven medals overall, including a historic first-ever gold for India in the Men’s Regu event. The women’s team also secured medals across several disciplines.
Nagaland’s Asian Games connection
The latest selection continues a significant trend for Nagaland. According to the report by Akashvani News, the state will have Sepaktakraw representatives at its fifth consecutive Asian Games since 2010.
That consistency is particularly notable for a sport that receives considerably less mainstream attention than cricket, hockey or athletics. Nagaland’s continued presence demonstrates how regional sporting systems can develop athletes capable of competing at the highest Asian level.
The numbers that matter
4: Women from Nagaland selected for India’s Asian Games Sepaktakraw setup
2: Players — Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa
2: Coaches — Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro
7: Medals won by India at the 2025 Sepaktakraw World Cup
1: Historic World Cup gold won by India in Men’s Regu in 2025
6: Medals won collectively by five Naga women at the 2023 King’s Cup
5th: Consecutive Asian Games featuring Sepaktakraw representatives from Nagaland since 2010
More than a selection
For Menenu Tsukru and Seyiekhrieno Tepa, the Asian Games will be another opportunity to translate years of training and international experience into a major performance for India.
For Puleno Neikha and Pungotolu Puro, the challenge will come from a different side of the court — helping prepare and guide the women’s team through one of Asia’s biggest sporting competitions.
For Nagaland, meanwhile, the story is much bigger than four names.
It is a story of a state that has quietly built a strong Sepaktakraw culture, produced international-level athletes and coaches, and repeatedly found its way into India’s national setup.
As the Indian contingent heads towards Aichi-Nagoya, four women from Nagaland will carry that legacy with them — with the opportunity to turn years of hard work into another memorable chapter for both India and Nagaland.
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