When Nazneen Rahman first began to promote pickleball in Assam, the challenge wasn’t really about convincing people to take up the sport. It was about creating an ecosystem where they could actually play it. Today, that landscape is changing rapidly. Courts are available in the Northeastern state, and they are becoming busier; tournaments are regularly organized, and some schools are beginning to embrace the sport.
At the heart of that growth is Rahman, Secretary of the Assam Pickleball Association, whose work in developing the sport recently earned her global recognition.
She was selected as one of just 20 women coaches from around the world for the inaugural Women Who Rally Leadership Programme. It is a joint initiative by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR). She is also the only representative from India in the cohort. Her selection also brings international recognition, not only to herself, but also to the growing pickleball movement in Northeast India.
‘Phenomenal growth in the last six months’
When asked about the sport’s growth in the region, she claimed that the progress over the last few months has been especially encouraging.
“For me, as a promoter of the game in the North-East, I am very happy with the development right now. Initially, people knew, but they didn’t have the opportunity. They didn’t have a coach, they didn’t have professionals to teach them, they didn’t have the opportunity to go to a tournament,” she said.
“So, we created this opportunity for them. It made a huge impact, and I am really happy with the phenomenal growth in the last six months. We are having regular tournaments, we are having open play, and we are having training sessions. As a certified coach, I am responsible for training and developing our players. So, it’s a good move going forward. I see huge development in future.”
Despite the momentum and her achievement, Rahman also feels that infrastructure remains the biggest obstacle preventing the sport from reaching its full potential in the Northeast.
“Number one challenge I would say is the infrastructure. Because we don’t have as many investors as we would like, like in metro cities. We have zero investors, I should say. So, whatever we are doing, we are doing on our own,” she said.
She explained that although several clubs have come up in Assam, most are small, self-managed facilities.
“I would like to see big players coming in and having a very big facility where it’s professionally managed,” she said.
Rahman also feels that many people think pickleball is easy to learn, which is proving to be a setback for the sport’s development in the state. She pointed out that many players don’t receive proper coaching because of that mindset.
“People are not very interested in taking coaching because I think it’s an easy game. People are focusing more on tournaments. But I believe coaching is a very crucial part of the growth of the game,” she said.
‘Mostly, my work was focused on community building’
To ensure the sport spreads across the state, Rahman has been putting most of her effort into grassroots development. For grassroots development, she has been using schools, colleges and local communities.
“Mostly, my work was focused on community building, which was made possible by going to the schools, universities and colleges. So, I did a lot of fieldwork, going to schools, conducting clinics and awareness camps, introducing the game. And also conducting mini-tournaments here and there so that people learn and enjoy the game as well,” she said.
Meanwhile, her selection to the Women Who Rally Leadership Program has strengthened her vision for increasing women’s participation in racquet sports.
“I am very happy that I have been selected and I am grateful for this opportunity. We are 20 women leaders from all over the world. I represented my country, India,” she said.
Opening up about the programme, she pointed out the value of learning from coaches across different countries.
“We come together for a very intensive leadership training program where we learn about connection, leadership, having those outreach programs with people, professionally and also on a very human level. Connecting on a human level,” she said.
She is also hoping that her lessons from the program will translate into greater opportunities for women and girls in Assam.
“I think that will benefit each one of us because it has taught us a lot in terms of professionalism, taking the sport forward and involving more women and girls in sports. We have a very poor ratio of people participating in sports, such as men and women. So, I hope I can use my knowledge to impact the growth of women’s participation in sports, where more women and children come forward. Young girls can come forward and actively participate in sports and also take up leadership roles and try to influence people. in a very positive way,” she said.
Her philosophy as a coach is also heavily influenced by her background. She has represented India internationally in tennis and has also worked as a certified coach in the sport, before transitioning to pickleball.
“Tennis has really helped me. I am also a certified tennis coach. I have given immense knowledge and insight from my tennis background to help grow pickleball because, at the end of the day, it’s all that a sport needs. All sports are built on a similar foundation. My tennis foundation has helped me in my coaching and training. So, I think it is a strong point that I come from a tennis background that has helped me grow this sport in the North-East.”
The road ahead is long, and Rahman envisions a future in which pickleball becomes a regular fixture in schools across Assam and the Northeast.
“I see massive involvement, especially from the juniors of different age categories in schools. We already have a lot of students, and schools are showing a lot of interest. I am also planning to do an inter-school because the youth are our power. They are our future,” she said.
‘A social game’
She also revealed that, as pickleball is a social game, retired men and women in their 70s are playing.
“Pickleball is such a social game. It is a way for them to rethink their health and also come out of their homes. Even men who are retired, we have people playing, 70-plus men and women playing. It is a great opportunity for them, and it will create a very holistic society involved in sports and wellness,” she said.
For now, Rahman’s goal is beyond medals or rankings. It is about creating opportunities. It is about ensuring that pickleball continues to grow as a sport and brings together children, women, working professionals and senior citizens across Northeast India.
Written by Neelav Chakravarti
