BOLENG : The second edition of the Short Height Men’s Volleyball Tournament, organised by the North Eastern Sports and Cultural Organization (NESCO), concluded at Rasing village in Siang district on Thursday.

Described by the organisers as the world’s first tournament of its kind, the competition was held with a reduced net height of 7 feet 2 inches, compared to the international standard of 7 feet 11 inches. The event was conducted from May 3 to May 14, 2026, for players with a height range of 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches.

A total of 20 teams from Siang, East Siang, West Siang, and Upper Siang districts participated in the tournament.

In the grand finale, Friends IX team of Lorging village defeated Generation Z team of Beging village by 3–1 sets to lift the championship title. Trophies and prizes were presented by NESCO Chairman Er Ibrahim Pajing and Vice-Chairman Dina Tatak.

Speaking at the final match, NESCO Chairman Er Ibrahim Pajing, the initiator of the Idea of Physical Height Classification (IPHC), said the initiative was aimed at addressing perceived disparities in sports based on physical height.

“Unlike boxing, wrestling, weightlifting and other sports that have weight categories, many disciplines such as volleyball, basketball, athletics, swimming and field events do not have separate categories based on height. This creates an imbalance where shorter and smaller athletes are often at a disadvantage,” he said.

He added, “If boxing had no weight categories, athletes like Mary Kom, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard might never have achieved such success.”

Pajing said he had been advocating for height-based classification since his school days and that NESCO has now initiated the IP Height Classification system, under which sporting events will be organised in different height categories.

The proposed classification includes very short (below 5 feet 4 inches), short (5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches), medium (5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches), tall (5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches), very tall (6 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 6 inches), and super tall or towering (6 feet 7 inches and above).

Calling for wider support, he urged sports authorities at the state and national levels to recognise and adopt the system to ensure greater inclusivity in sports.

“We appeal to all concerned authorities to support this initiative so that justice and equality can be ensured for shorter and smaller athletes in competitive sports,” he said. (DIPR)