Nagaland Hosts Inaugural Mithun-Rhino Pickleball Championship, Boosting Regional Sports Ties

Pickleball crossed a state border in India's Northeast when the Inaugural Mithun-Rhino Pickleball Championship 2026 got underway at noon on March 14 at The Fitness House in Dimapur, Nagaland. Organised by the Nagaland Pickleball Association in affiliation with the Indian Pickleball Association, the event pitted Nagaland against Assam in what organisers described as the state's first major interstate pickleball competition.

The road to the championship began a week earlier. On March 7, the NPA concluded its Team Nagaland Trials at the same venue, The Fitness House, selecting the athletes who would carry the state's colours into the interstate fixture. Pre-event scheduling listed the championship as running March 14 and 15, with the Nagaland Tribune confirming a 12 noon start on the opening day.

The inaugural programme was chaired by Kakivi Chishi, Vice President of the Nagaland Pickleball Association. Sharingain Longkumer, Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, was named Chief Guest, while Charlie Sekhose, Senior Vice President of the Naga People's Front, was named Honoured Guest. Dr Husezo Rhakho, President of Asia Highland Partners, was announced to open the programme with a prayer.

The NPA framed the event as something larger than a single tournament. According to the association, the championship is "a unique initiative designed to strengthen bonds of goodwill, friendship, and mutual respect between our neighbouring states," and aims to "celebrate the energy, talent, and aspirations of our youth" by uniting athletes from both states on one platform. The Nagaland Tribune quoted the NPA describing the event as part of a broader vision shared with the State Government to strengthen sports diplomacy and build lasting relationships between athletes, associations, and communities across state lines.

The association also signalled longer-term ambitions. The NPA stated it "looks forward to continued partnerships that will strengthen infrastructure, expand participation, elevate standards of competition, and build a sustainable sporting ecosystem for Nagaland and beyond," and that it seeks to position Nagaland as an emerging destination for modern and inclusive sporting events. Strong collaboration, the NPA noted, is central to making events like this one possible: "Events such as the Mithun Rhino Pickleball Championship are made possible through the coming together of associations, athletes, venue partners, supporters, and stakeholders who share a common vision."

Match results, final scores, and category breakdowns had not been confirmed in available post-event materials as of publication, and the NPA has not yet issued a public statement on outcomes or attendance figures. What is clear is that Dimapur now has a footprint on India's interstate pickleball map, and the NPA is already pointing toward the next step.