‘Community’ sport padel eyes Olympics debut at 2032 Brisbane Games, Hong Kong chief says
Hong Kong sends team of 10 to inaugural Asia Pacific Padel Cup, to compete against Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines
Padel could be added to the Olympic roster for the 2032 Brisbane Games, says Adrian Lee, the head of the sport’s association in Hong Kong.
The sport, which is a fusion of tennis and squash, has yet to reach elite popularity in the city but Lee, who chairs the Hong Kong, China Padel Association (HKCPA), said it was on the “correct trajectory” to becoming more popular worldwide.
Lee believed it ticked “so many boxes” of what an Olympic event requires and the International Padel Federation had earmarked the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane for the sport’s debut. However, he said, a lot of work still needed to be done to achieve that goal.
“We’re on the correct trajectory for that [2032 Games) but it does require a little bit of centralised governance and everyone kind of working towards a single mission and vision which culminates in that Olympic qualification,” he said. “But I’d be amazed if we weren’t already at the point where we have enough nations or players to make that a reality.
“It’s more a case of everyone trying to get their governance in play to make sure that there is that consolidated approach to making that application and to showing all the great things about the sport and why we think it’s Olympic worthy.”
Lee also highlighted the “sense of community” within the game, as it is rarely played as a one-on-one contest.
