HISTORY OF PADEL

The Padel was invented in Mexico by Enrique Corcuera in 1969. Corcuera's experience on his Squash court at his home in Acapulco (Mexico) with elements of Platform Tennis created "Paddle Corcuera", now commonly known as Padel.

Later Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, a friend of Enrique Corcuera, set up the first two Padel courts in a Tennis club in Marbella, Spain. Alfonso further included modifications from Enrique's original designs to make the sport more competitive.

from Julio Menditeguy, an Argentinian member of Alfonso's Tennis Club, made the sport famous in Argentina. Padel is a highly played sport in Spain and several countries in Latin America, especially Mexico, Argentina, Brazil etc. It is also gaining popularity in UAE, Italy, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt etc.

Padel is a racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court with a scoring system incorporated from tennis, and the balls used are similar but with a little less pressure.

The distinct part of the sport is that the court has walls, and the player can strike the balls with stringless racquets. The ball served under the arm at or below the waist level.

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Growth of Padel in the World

Padel is a racket sport with remarkable popularity in recent years. Originating in Mexico in the 1960s, Padel spread rapidly worldwide, especially in Spain and other parts of Europe. This sport has caught the attention of many people due to its easy-to-learn rules and the physical activity it provides

According to reports, Padel is the fastest-growing sport globally, with more than 8 million people playing it regularly. In Spain, Padel has become the second most popular sport, after football, with around 6 million players, and is growing at an annual rate of approximately 20%. The sport has also gained traction in other countries like Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Italy.

In Spain, padel courts have increased significantly over the past few years, with more than 10,000 courts currently in operation. According to the Spanish Padel Federation, registered players have increased by more than 400% over the past decade. This growth has much to do with Padel requiring less space than other racket sports, making building courts in urban areas easier.

Regarding international recognition, Padel has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and included in the upcoming 2022 World Games program in Birmingham, Alabama. This recognition has been a significant milestone for the sport, opening doors for more investment and exposure.

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Growth of Padel in Dubai

Padel as a sport has grown tremendously, with an annual growth rate of over 25 per cent. People from all age groups have found a liking for the sport, and multifold sales of the Padel rackets with an increase in the Padel courts also signify it. The promotion of Padel by Sheikh Hamdan helped the following of the sport and led to the formation of the UAE Padel Association.

UAE Padel Association, has worked tirelessly to introduce young generations to the sport and develop new talents for the future. The sport has grown at over 40 per cent a year, in UAE, with over 80 clubs promoting it. The number of padel courts has risen to 500 and is likely to increase further. The introduction of NAS Ramadan Tournaments at the NAS facility and the regular organisation of ranking tournaments by the governing body has played a crucial role in the promotion and growth of the sport.

In an interview with the Gulf News, General Secretary of the UAE Padel Association, Saeed Al Marri, said, “I am an ex-tennis player, and if you have to start enjoying a sport like tennis, then one needs to play and train for a minimum of six-eight months. However, on the contrary, a newcomer to Padel can enjoy the sport from day one.”

Padel is a racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court with a scoring system incorporated from tennis, and the balls used are similar but with a little less pressure.

Padel is easy to promote on a larger scale due to less infrastructure cost than other physical sports like football and cricket. Moreover, with less space required, the hotels and residential developers are setting up Padel Courts to give an option to the residents and tourists to enjoy the sport.

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