A competitive contingent of players from across Assam gathered at the Stryde Arena in Guwahati on October 31 and November 1 to contest the Assam State Selection Trials. The two-day sporting event was staged specifically to select the state squad that will represent Assam at the upcoming Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) Nationals 2026, creating intense battles on the court across multiple skill levels and demographics.
Institutional Framework and Event Classification
The selection tournament was organized by the Assam Pickleball Association (APA) in direct collaboration with Kaziranga Pro Sports Network (KPSN), ProHealth (Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Clinic), and PlayO. Sanctioned officially by the Indian Pickleball Association under the authority of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports alongside the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the meet carried a prestigious PWR 400 grading. This status ensured that the event adhered to national competitive benchmarks while offering crucial ranking weightage to the participating athletes.
Statewide Participation Across Divisions
With a fixed number of national roster berths on the line, the trials drew robust participation from urban centers including Guwahati, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Silchar, as well as eligible competitors residing outside the state boundary. Athletes took part in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles fixtures configured across diverse age brackets, each aiming to earn their official selection into the state delegation.
Singles Winners Across Youth and Senior Brackets
The singles action produced sharp contests from grassroots juniors through to veteran masters. In the youth division, Neer Arohan Medhi captured the Boys Under-14 Singles crown, while Partha Pratim Dutta earned the championship trophy in Open Men's Singles. In the age-categorized men's singles fixtures, Vinayak Thakur claimed victory in the 30+ division, Deepanjan Deb secured first place in the 40+ category, Ashish Jain took top honors in the 50+ group, and Venkatachalam Gopalan triumphed in the 60+ bracket. On the women's side, Manaswinee Hazarika won the Women's 30+ Singles title, and Nazneen Rahman emerged victorious in the 40+ category.
Doubles and Mixed Doubles Results
The doubles draws similarly showcased deep teamwork and tactical play. In the Open Men's Doubles category, the pair of Harsh Bagrodia and Kavya Bagrodia claimed the title. The Men's 30+ Doubles crown was secured by Udipta Gogoi and Vinayak Thakur, while Deepanjan Deb and Harsh Bagrodia combined to take the Men's 40+ Doubles title. In the Men's 50+ division, Shibasish Dutta Gupta and Ashish Jain finished at the top of the podium. Mixed doubles play saw Upasana Nath and Vinayak Thakur capture the Open championship, Manaswinee Hazarika and Udipta Gogoi secure the 30+ title, and Nazneen Rahman alongside Debasish Borah clinch the 40+ mixed doubles gold.
Standout Performers and Multi-Title Success
Vinayak Thakur delivered the standout individual campaign of the tournament, completing a triple crown by winning the Men's 30+ Singles, Men's 30+ Doubles, and Open Mixed Doubles divisions. Multiple other athletes celebrated double crowns across their respective categories, including Manaswinee Hazarika, Nazneen Rahman, Harsh Bagrodia, Deepanjan Deb, and Udipta Gogoi. Recognizing emerging local skill, organizers named Parashmani Das of Guwahati as the Most Promising Player of the Tournament.
Grassroots Expansion and National Outlook
Reflecting on the sport's trajectory within the state, APA Secretary Nazneen Rahman pointed out that pickleball has seen steady growth across several districts in recent years, with community participation expanding every month and new talent elevating the playing standard. She noted that donning state colors at the national level represents both an honor and a major sporting responsibility. Rahman expressed optimism that the selected group will surpass Assam's medal return from the previous edition of the Nationals when they take the court in 2026. She also expressed gratitude toward match referees, organizers, volunteers, commercial sponsors, venue partners, and athletes for ensuring the successful execution of the trials. With the selection phase now completed, Assam's qualified players will transition into targeted preparation for the national arena.
