Chief Minister Lalduhoma attended the MISMA Fight Night organised by the Mizoram Mixed Martial Arts Association (MISMA) as the chief guest at R. Dengthuama Indoor Stadium, Mualpui.
UFC Flyweight Champion Joshua Van also attended the event as special guest.
The Chief Minister, in his address, stated that honoring Joshua “The Fearless” Van, the first-ever UFC Champion from Southeast Asia, was a matter of great pride for the people of Mizoram. He emphasized that the Mizos, Chins, and Kukis belong to one ethnic family and that maintaining unity and brotherhood among them is of utmost importance. Joshua Van, he said, stands before the world as a representative of his people, and his achievements further strengthen the bonds and solidarity among these communities.
The Chief Minister praised Joshua Van’s remarkable accomplishments, highlighting his professional record of 17 victories, including 9 knockouts. He remarked that such achievements go beyond statistics and serve as an inspiration and challenge to young people. Referring to his own attainment of an Honorary 7th Dan Black Belt from the World Pro Taekwondo Headquarters Federation, Lalduhoma stressed that reaching such heights requires self-discipline, perseverance, and strong mental fortitude. The Chief Minister also expressed his delight that he had received an Honorary Black Belt from Shariq Bapu, Senior Vice President of the Asian MMA Federation.
Lalduhoma further noted that Joshua Van’s success encourages Mizo youth to set higher goals and confidently face the challenges of the world. Expressing his gratitude to the UFC champion, he assured him that Mizoram would continue to support him in all his future endeavors.
Lalnghinglova Hmar, Minister of Sports and Youth Services, in his address informed the gathering that approval had been secured under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme – Other Than Roads Infrastructure (NESIDS-OTRI) of the Ministry of DoNER for the construction of a Centre of Excellence for Boxing and various contact sports in Mizoram, at a cost of Rs 38 crore. He described the approval as a significant achievement for the state’s sports sector.
