Nagaland, Assam Set for Inaugural Mithun Rhino Pickleball Championship in Dimapur
Team Nagaland, led by mixed doubles captain Chubasenla Aier, opens against Assam on March 14 at noon in Dimapur's first-ever interstate pickleball championship.
Three days after completing trials at The Fitness House in Dimapur, Team Nagaland is already in training and preparing to face Assam in the inaugural Mithun Rhino Pickleball Championship 2026, scheduled for March 14 and 15 at the same venue.
The Nagaland Pickleball Association selected its squad through two pathways: direct entry spots went to champions from a previous tournament, while the remaining positions were filled through official trials held on March 7. The mixed doubles lineup features Chubasenla Aier as captain, alongside Kabinlo Kent, Imtinok Pongener, Megotsolie Khate, Menuovi Kire, Eyeni Yanthan, Imtila Pongen and Lentina Longkumer. Full rosters for the men's, women's and veterans categories have not yet been released.
Competition across all four categories — men's, women's, veterans and mixed doubles — begins at 12:00 PM on March 14. The timing for the finals has not been confirmed.
The NPA described the championship as "part of efforts to strengthen sporting exchanges and collaboration between athletes and sports bodies from different states," with a broader aim to promote pickleball across Nagaland and the Northeast. The association also stated that "strong collaboration and meaningful partnerships are central to the future of sport in the region," adding that events like this one depend on "the coming together of associations, athletes, venue partners, supporters, and stakeholders who share a common vision."
The championship also carries explicit aims around gender inclusion and youth participation, with the NPA committing to "competitive excellence and inclusivity in pickleball while encouraging healthy lifestyles and gender inclusion," according to IndigenousHerald.
The Fitness House is serving a dual role: it hosted the March 7 trials and will stage the championship itself. The NPA publicly thanked the facility for both, expressing hope for a continued partnership to grow the sport across the region. Akashvani News Kohima noted that the event "underscores pickleball's expanding footprint in Northeast India."
No Assam roster has been made public, and details on match format, prize structure and the origin of the "Mithun Rhino" name have not been disclosed by the NPA.
Know something we missed? Have a correction or additional information?
Submit a Tip
