Guwahati: Assam registered one of its most remarkable performances at the Pickleball Nationals in Bengaluru, securing two gold medals through its women athletes and several podium finishes across categories.
A 25-member contingent from Assam competed in the national championship held from November 13 to 16, organised by the Karnataka Pickleball Association under the aegis of the Indian Pickleball Association, recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of India.
The event drew over 1,100 athletes from across the country, competing in team events and open individual categories ranging from U-12 to 70+.
Assam’s campaign gained momentum when Anangsha Alomyan clinched the 30+ Women’s Singles Gold, producing a standout run that included a semifinal upset over top seed Priyanka Mehta of Maharashtra with an 11–7 victory. She carried her form into the final to claim the national title for the state.
In another major achievement, Nayeem Hussain and Prapti Baruah secured the U16 Girls Doubles Gold, defeating Madhya Pradesh’s Aanshi Sanmanvi and Ashriyaa Singh with an emphatic 11–3 win in the final.
Assam continued its medal run in the U16 Girls Team Event, where Prapti Baruah, Nayeem Hussain, and Utpalakshee Saikia dominated the group stage with victories over Madhya Pradesh (2–0) and Tamil Nadu (2–1). The team eventually finished with a silver medal after going down to Maharashtra in the final.
The 30+ Women’s Team, comprising Anangsha Alomyan, Manaswinee Hazarika, and Upasana Nath added a bronze to Assam’s tally. The trio stunned top-seeded Gujarat 2–0 in the quarterfinals before losing to Maharashtra in the semifinals.
Assam athletes also shone in the Individual Open Events. Anangsha Alomyan and the duo of Nayeem Hussain and Prapti Baruah repeated their gold-winning performances, while Upasana Nath claimed silver in Women’s Singles, defeating Priti Kumari 11–4 in the semifinals to enter an all-Assam final.
The state secured three additional bronze medals through Nazneen Rahman in 50+ Women’s Singles, who upset last year’s national champion Kavita Khanna; Tiken Chandra Basumatary in 60+ Men’s Singles; and the pair of Manaswinee Hazarika and Anangsha Alomyan in 30+ Women’s Doubles.