Kohima Pickleball Classic 2026 Crowns Local Champions at Heritage Arena

Manaseinee Hazarika walked off the courts at the Heritage Pickleball Arena on March 22 with two gold medals around her neck, the standout result from a two-day regional tournament that drew more than 80 players to Officers Hill, Kohima.

The Kohima Pickleball Classic Tournament 2026, powered by Ahibi Sports, concluded at the Heritage Pickleball Arena, Old DC Bungalow, Officers Hill, Kohima on March 22. Organised by the Nagaland Pickleball Association, the event witnessed participation from over 80 players across multiple categories. A total prize pool of Rs 1,00,000 backed the competition, spread across five categories: Mixed Doubles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, Team Event, and Veterans Doubles (Challengers). Entry was heaviest in Mixed Doubles, which filled 22 teams, followed by Men's Doubles at 20 teams, with Women's Doubles, the Team Event, and Veterans Doubles each drawing eight teams.

Hazarika's double run was the tournament's most compelling individual story. She and Vilasier Khate took the Mixed Doubles title, defeating Anangsha Alomyan and David Murry in the final. Hours later, Hazarika returned to the court with a partner listed across sources as Anangsha Aloñ to claim the Women's Doubles crown, with Eyeni Yanthan and Chubasenla Aier finishing runners-up.

David Murry, who had finished runner-up in Mixed Doubles alongside Alomyan, flipped the script in Men's Doubles. Tonoto Ayemi and David Murry secured the Men's Doubles title, with Imsurem Longchar and Nzamo Kikon finishing as runners-up. In the Team Event, The Home Court emerged winners while The Rally Social Club secured the runner-up position. The Veterans Doubles (Challengers) title went to Abu Metha and Vikhozolie Khate, who edged out Rohan Abraham and Lhouvi Punyu.

Organisers said the tournament saw intense matches, with both emerging talents and experienced players competing at a high level. The Nagaland Post described the event as "one of the most energetic pickleball gatherings in the region," a characterization the field size and category spread seem to justify.

The Nagaland Pickleball Association, founded in 2022, is dedicated to promoting pickleball throughout Nagaland. The Classic is one of several recent events the NPA has staged in quick succession: the association, in affiliation with the Indian Pickleball Association, also organized the state's first-ever major interstate pickleball competition, the Inaugural Mithun-Rhino Pickleball Championship 2026, held just weeks earlier in Dimapur. That event was also designed to serve as a preparatory platform ahead of a Northeast Interstate Championship slated for May 2026.

The successful conclusion of the Kohima Pickleball Classic marks another milestone in promoting the sport across the state, with enthusiastic participation, competitive spirit and strong community support highlighting pickleball's rapid growth and potential in Nagaland. For a state that only organized its pickleball association four years ago, putting 80-plus players on a competitive bracket across five disciplines at a dedicated arena in Kohima is a number worth watching.