The Nagaland Pickleball Association (NPA) has announced the inaugural 1st Nagaland Pickleball Open, set to be held on July 13, 2025, at AIKO Greens, Dimapur. The tournament will feature Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories and marks a major milestone for the newly formed NPA, which was officially established on March 27, 2025.
As part of the event build-up, international pickleball player and coach Dilip Mohanty will conduct a special training clinic on July 12 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, NPA informed. Mohanty is the Director of Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) India and a Certified PPR Coaches Tutor (USA), bringing world-class expertise to local athletes ahead of the competition.
The NPA, under the leadership of President Nathan Zeliang, functions under the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), which is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India. The NPA is also affiliated with the Global Pickleball Federation, underscoring its commitment to international standards and development.
While inviting players to register for the “historic tournament,” that NPA also added: “The association extends best wishes to all participants and looks forward to advancing its mission of making pickleball Nagaland’s most accessible and celebrated sport.”
About Pickleball
Pickleball is a fast-growing paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It’s played with a solid paddle and a plastic ball with holes (like a wiffle ball), either indoors or outdoors, on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net.
Pickleball is played on a 20-by-44-foot court, the same size as a doubles badminton court, with a net that is 34 inches high at the center. Players use solid paddles, which are larger than table tennis paddles but smaller than tennis racquets, and a lightweight plastic ball with holes. The game can be played in singles or doubles format.
In terms of rules, points can only be scored by the serving side, and a game is typically played to 11 points, with a team needing to win by 2. One of the unique features of the sport is the non-volley zone, also called the “kitchen”, which is a seven-foot area on both sides of the net where players are not allowed to volley the ball (hit it in the air without letting it bounce first). This rule encourages strategic play and prevents aggressive net dominance.
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports globally, with organized leagues, coaching certifications, and international tournaments — including in India, where it’s gaining momentum in states like Nagaland.