Guwahati hosted the Assam State Selection Trials for the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) Nationals 2026 on October 31 and November 1. The two-day competition brought together players from different districts and age groups. Organisers conducted the event at Stryde Arena in Guwahati. Participants competed for opportunities to represent Assam at the national championships. The competition featured singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories. It also highlighted the growing interest in pickleball among young players and established athletes. The event marked another step in Assam’s efforts to expand the sport through district-level participation and organised competitions.
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Assam Pickleball Association Organises State Trials
The Assam Pickleball Association (APA) organised the selection trials in partnership with Kaziranga Pro Sports Network. The Indian Pickleball Association sanctioned the competition, which received a PWR 400 grading.
The event aimed to select players for the IPA Nationals 2026. The national championship is scheduled for December in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
More than 80 players and teams had registered before the competition. Participants represented different age groups and both men’s and women’s divisions.
The trials provided a competitive platform for athletes seeking places in the Assam contingent. Moreover, the event gave emerging players an opportunity to compete alongside experienced participants.
The organisers also received support from sporting partners, including ProHealth and PlayO. Referees, volunteers and venue partners contributed to the tournament’s arrangements.
Players Arrive From Several Assam Districts
The competition attracted participants from different parts of the state. Players travelled from Guwahati, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Silchar.
Their participation reflected the sport’s expanding reach beyond the state capital. It also showed how local coaching initiatives can help introduce pickleball to new communities.
Players competed across multiple age categories. The programme included under-14, open and senior divisions.
The under-14 category created an opportunity for younger athletes to gain competitive experience. Meanwhile, older participants competed in age-based singles and doubles events.
The selection format placed emphasis on performance across categories. Winners earned opportunities to join Assam’s team for the national championship.
Competition Features 16 Medal Categories
The trials concluded with winners emerging across 16 categories. These included men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions.
Partha Pratim Dutta secured the open men’s singles title. Neer Arohan Medhi won the boys’ under-14 singles competition.
Other singles winners included Vinayak Thakur in men’s 30+, Deepanjan Deb in men’s 40+ and Ashish Jain in men’s 50+.
Venkatachalam Gopalan won the men’s 60+ singles category. Manaswinee Hazarika and Nazneen Rahman secured the women’s 30+ and 40+ singles titles respectively.
In open men’s doubles, Harsh Bagrodia and Kavya Bagrodia claimed the championship. Udipta Gogoi and Vinayak Thakur won the men’s 30+ doubles title.
Deepanjan Deb and Harsh Bagrodia secured the men’s 40+ doubles crown. Shibasish Dutta Gupta and Ashish Jain won the men’s 50+ doubles competition.
The mixed doubles events also produced three winning pairs. Upasana Nath and Vinayak Thakur claimed the open title.
Manaswinee Hazarika and Udipta Gogoi won the mixed 30+ category. Nazneen Rahman and Debasish Borah secured the mixed 40+ championship.
Vinayak Thakur Claims Three Titles
Vinayak Thakur emerged as one of the tournament’s leading performers. He secured three titles during the two-day competition.
He won men’s 30+ singles and men’s 30+ doubles. He also claimed the open mixed doubles championship with Upasana Nath.
His performance made him the tournament’s standout multi-category winner.
Meanwhile, Manaswinee Hazarika, Nazneen Rahman, Harsh Bagrodia, Deepanjan Deb and Udipta Gogoi each secured two titles.
Parashmani Das of Guwahati received the Most Promising Player award. The recognition highlighted his performance during the competition.
These results demonstrated the depth of participation across different categories. They also gave the association a group of selected athletes to prepare for the national event.
Pickleball Gains Ground Among Young Athletes
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. Players use solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball on a smaller court.
The sport has attracted interest because its basic rules are relatively easy to learn. However, competitive matches require coordination, quick reactions and tactical decision-making.
Assam has gradually developed its pickleball community through coaching clinics and local tournaments. The association has also conducted outreach activities to introduce the sport to additional districts.
The under-14 competition at Guwahati provided a platform for younger players. Such events can help identify promising athletes and encourage regular training.
However, long-term development requires access to suitable courts, qualified coaches and regular competitions. Schools and local sports centres could also support wider participation.
PWR 400 Grading Adds National Competition Value
The Guwahati trials received a PWR 400 grading. This classification allowed participants to compete in an event carrying 400 pickleball world ranking points for winners.
The grading also gave the tournament a recognised competitive structure. It helped connect Assam’s selection process with the wider pickleball circuit.
The event operated under the sanction of the Indian Pickleball Association. This arrangement provided a pathway for selected players to enter the national championship.
The December competition in Ahmedabad will bring together players from different states. Assam’s selected athletes will now prepare for that challenge.
Their performances in Guwahati will provide a starting point for further preparation. Training, fitness and match experience will remain important before the national event.
Assam Builds a Wider Pickleball Network
The 2026 trials followed earlier efforts to establish pickleball across Assam. The association also conducted state selection trials in October 2025.
That earlier competition took place at the Pickleball Club in Basistha, Guwahati. Around 80 players participated across 12 categories.
The latest event expanded the competition format to 16 categories. It also attracted participants from several districts.
This progression reflects continued efforts to build a wider player base. Regular competitions can help athletes gain experience and improve their performance.
The association has also highlighted the role of grassroots programmes and coaching clinics. These activities can introduce the sport to people who have limited access to organised training.
Conclusion
Guwahati’s Assam State Pickleball Selection Trials brought together players from several districts on October 31 and November 1, 2026. Organised by the Assam Pickleball Association, the competition featured 16 categories and selected athletes for the IPA Nationals.
Vinayak Thakur secured three titles, while Parashmani Das received the Most Promising Player award. The participation of younger athletes also highlighted pickleball’s growing appeal in Assam.
The event represents another step in the state’s efforts to develop the sport. Continued coaching, district-level competitions and national exposure could help emerging players strengthen Assam’s presence in pickleball.
FAQs
1. When did the Assam pickleball selection trials take place?
The two-day trials took place on October 31 and November 1, 2026.
2. Where did the competition take place?
The Assam State Selection Trials were held at Stryde Arena in Guwahati.
3. Which organisation conducted the trials?
The Assam Pickleball Association organised the event in partnership with Kaziranga Pro Sports Network.
4. How many categories featured in the competition?
Players competed across 16 singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories.
5. Who won three titles at the tournament?
Vinayak Thakur won men’s 30+ singles, men’s 30+ doubles and open mixed doubles.
6. What is the next major competition for selected players?
The selected athletes will represent Assam at the IPA Nationals 2026, scheduled for December in Ahmedabad.