The inaugural of Kohima Masters Pickleball Championship, organised by The Paddle Collective Kohima, is underway at The Heritage Pickleball Arena and will conclude on October 3.

The two-day championship began on October 2 with competitions in the Mixed Doubles Beginner and Mixed Doubles Open categories. The Men’s Doubles Beginner and Men’s Doubles Open categories will be played on October 3.

Around 60 participants from Kohima and Dimapur are taking part in the championship, which is open to men aged 40 years and above and women aged 30 years and above.

The tournament carries a total prize pool of ₹1.20 lakh, with each of the four categories offering ₹20,000 for the winners and ₹10,000 for the runners-up.

The event began with an invocation by Pastor Moa of City Church.

President of The Pickleball collective Kohima Neteno Yhoshü highlighted that the growing popularity of pickleball in Kohima has prompted The Paddle Collective Kohima to create a dedicated platform for players to compete, interact and build a community around the sport.

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Yhoshü said the event aims to promote an active lifestyle while providing an inclusive space for players across age groups, particularly experienced and older players.

She noted that pickleball is still relatively new in Nagaland but has received a positive response, with adults and senior players increasingly taking up the sport.

Yhoshü said the championship also seeks to challenge the perception that competitive sports are primarily for younger people, stressing that pickleball can be enjoyed across generations.

She said The Paddle Collective hopes to make the Kohima Masters an annual event and eventually expand participation to players from other districts of Nagaland and outside the state.

Encouraging beginners to take up the sport, Yhoshü said people need not have a background in racket sports or be highly fit to start playing pickleball. She described the sport as an opportunity to stay active, make friends and become part of a growing community.

The finals for Mixed doubles beginner and mixed doubles open category finals will be played on October 3.

In the mixed doubles beginner category, James and Mengu Rio will face Amung Konyak and Asen in the final.

The mixed doubles open category final will see Viketho and Asen take on Kenei and Lentina.