Interstate inaugural Mithun Rhino Pickleball C’ship on Mar 14-15

The Nagaland Pickleball Association (NPA) has officially announced the inaugural Mithun Rhino Pickleball Championship, an interstate sporting event between Nagaland and Assam, scheduled for March 14–15 at The Fitness House.
The championship is being hailed as a landmark initiative to strengthen interstate relations through sport and to position the Northeast region as a rising force in pickleball at the national level. It will also serve as a preparatory platform ahead of the Northeast Interstate Championship slated for May 2026. Championship categories: Men’s Interstate Team Championship (2 singles + 2 doubles); Men’s Veterans Interstate Team Championship (40+) – best of 3 doubles; Open Categories: Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Veterans Doubles (40+ and 45+).
All matches will follow a best-of-three format, played to 11 points with a win-by-2 rule. In preparation for the interstate event, the NPA will conduct Nagaland State Trials on March 7 at The Fitness House. The trials will determine selections for the Men’s Interstate Team and Men’s Veterans Interstate Team. Selections will be based on skill assessment rounds, match play performance, game temperament and consistency, tactical understanding and team coordination and fitness and match readiness.
Eligibility is open to registered pickleball players from Nagaland, with veterans required to be 40 years or older. Final team announcements will follow the trials. Interstate Team Championships: Champion teams will receive trophies. Open Categories: Winners and runners-up will be awarded trophies and certificates. Prize money details will be announced later.
The NPA emphasized that the Mithun Rhino Pickleball Championship is more than a competition—it marks the beginning of a long-term sporting movement in the region.
The association aims to build a structured competitive pathway for athletes, strengthen interstate sporting relations, develop a sustainable annual pickleball IP in Nagaland and prepare players for larger Northeast and national competitions. The Nagaland Pickleball Association has invited all eligible players to register for the trials and be part of this historic first edition.