Nagaland in India Hosts First-Ever Pickleball Open in State
The state of Nagaland in India hosted the first-ever Nagaland Pickleball Open on 13 July 2025 at Aiko Greens in Dimapur. The tournament, organised by the Nagaland Pickleball Association and held in collaboration with the Indian Pickleball Association, was a PWR 50-sanctioned event that saw 32 teams representing Nagaland and Assa competing in the Men’s Doubles Open and Mixed Doubles categories.
The pair of Megotsolie Khate and Vilasier Khate won the Men’s Doubles title, with Dilip Mohanty and Abyan Zaffar finishing as runners-up. In the Mixed Doubles category, Mohanty paired with Nazneen Rahman to secure the title.
Megotsolie and Vilasier took home the champions’ trophy and ₹15,000 in cash, while Mohanty and Zaffar earned ₹10,000 plus a trophy. The Mixed Doubles winners—Mohanty and Zaffar—bagged the ₹10,000 and the champions’ trophy. Mohanty, incidentally, also served as the event’s tournament director and helped ensure the smooth coordination of everything, provided expert oversight on the proceedings, and ensured a high standard of professionalism all throughout.
The successful hosting is a landmark for Nagaland as it has legitimised the state as a major player in India’s emerging pickleball landscape. In relation to this, the Nagaland Pickleball Association extended its gratitude to the Assam Pickleball Association, whose continuing support has helped Nagaland raise its pickleball profile.
