North 2026
The Nagaland Pickleball Association (NPA) has announced full sponsorship for athlete Vilasier Khate for the Pickleball Zonals – North 2026, scheduled from June 24 to 28, 2026.
The tournament serves as a key selection event for India’s Open Category team for the Pickleball World Cup 2026, to be held in Da Nang, Vietnam from August 30 to September 6. Players selected from the Pro category will represent India at the global event.
Under the sponsorship, NPA will cover Khate’s registration fee, airfare, accommodation, and official team kit. He will compete in the 30+ Men’s Singles and Pro Men’s Singles categories, with the latter offering a pathway to national selection.
Khate is a seasoned athlete with a strong tennis background, having won over 100 national titles and 17 international titles. He has previously achieved top national rankings, including No. 2 in Under-16 and No. 4 in Under-18 categories, and represented India at the International Cup World Juniors 2010.
In pickleball, he has recently delivered strong performances, winning multiple medals at the Kolkata Open and Guwahati Open 2026, including three gold medals in Guwahati.
The NPA said Khate’s participation marks a significant step for Nagaland and the Northeast in emerging national-level pickleball. It expressed confidence in his performance and said his journey could inspire more athletes from Nagaland and the North-East to pursue excellence on the national and international stage, while further establishing the region as an emerging force in Indian pickleball.