Padel to the medal: sport sets participation record in Hong Kong, on track for Asian Games

The sport of padel reached new heights in Hong Kong over the weekend, with the FIP Silver Hong Kong tournament setting a participation record for the sport in Asia. Some 268 players from more than 30 countries and regions took part in the event at Go PARK Sai Sha, with more than 170 matches culminating in two enthralling finals on Sunday. Run in conjunction with the launching of the Hong Kong Padel Club, the tournament was given extra impetus to a game that is growing quickly in the city by the Olympic Council of Asia’ official recognition of the this week. It is a move many hope will pave the way for it to become a medal sport in future editions of the Asian Games. The FIP Silver Hong Kong, which concluded on Sunday, was held over five days at GO PARK Sai Sha and featured more than 170 matches, with European players dominating the finals. Adam Kwok Kai-fai, a padel enthusiast and executive director of Sun Hung Kai Properties, which developed the park, said its rise could help strengthen Hong Kong’s sporting ecosystem. “Growing participation at the grass roots level is key,” Kwok said. “You build the base first, then move towards professionalisation. Hosting international tournaments gives local athletes world-class exposure, and it’s part of building a sustainable sporting pyramid.” Combining the dynamics of tennis and squash, padel is usually played as a team sport, with two players on each side competing in an enclosed arena roughly one-third the size of a tennis court. Matches take place within glass walls and metal fencing, allowing players to use the court’s perimeter for strategic rebounds, adding an extra layer of tactics to rallies. Hong Kong’s padel community had been energised by the Asian Games news, although the city still lacks a governing body recognised by the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, and it remains unclear who will oversee it locally. “We believe hosting more tournaments like this successful FIP Silver Tournament will go a long way in letting Hong Kong’s teams learn from these top level players as part of their career progression,” Kwok added. “Today marks an important milestone for padel in HK, and also helps contribute to HK’s hub for major international sports events.” Portugal’s Antonio Luque and France’s national champion Dylan Guichard claimed the men’s title in Hong Kong on Saturday, after beating France’s Julien Seurin and Thijs Roper from the Netherlands 7-6, 6-3. Guichard described the intense first set as “the craziest set we’ve ever played”. Guichard said he and Luque, who will now split up to play in separate tournaments in Europe, enjoyed the tournament and thanked “everyone who came and saw and cheered for us”. “We are very happy, with zero regrets about coming here, and hope to see you next year,” the Frenchman said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FIP (@padelfip) The women’s crown, meanwhile, went to Spain’s Alba Perez Momha and UK No 1 Aimee Gibson, who were competing together for the first time, but managed to beat Spanish duo Ana Varo Ramos and Lucia Micaela Fernandez Lopez in the final 6-2, 6-4. Momha, who was full of praise for the local venue and facilities, said she would be keen to compete in Hong Kong again. “It makes you feel at home,” said the Spaniard, who will head to Greece next week with her new partner for another international tournament. Several Hong Kong players also took to the court, including Rob Moore, ranked 822nd in the FIP men’s standings and among the city’s most experienced padel athletes. Although he was eliminated in the qualifying round, Moore was optimistic about his prospects in the sport. “I am really excited, and hopefully I will get the chance to represent Hong Kong, China, at the Asian Games,” Moore, a former tennis player, said. “Padel is a very tactical sport, less about pure power and more about strategy and mental focus. That’s what draws me to it.” Alenna Dawn, founder of Asia Padel Events, which staged the competition, said Hong Kong was an ideal place to hold the event as it was “an international hub that connects Asia and Europe”. “That’s why we are bringing it to Asia. It gives Asian players a platform to grow and level up, without having to travel to Europe or South America,” she said. “We plan to host even larger events in Hong Kong next year, possibly a gold- or platinum-level FIP tournament, which would be the highest-level padel event in East Asia.” As in tennis, the various-level tournaments carry different points and money prizes, with the higher-level competitions attracting higher-ranking players. Bastien Liveriou, founder and director of The One Padel Academy, which is backed by tournament organisers the Hong Kong Padel Club, said “padel fits Hong Kong – there’s a rich racquet-sport culture here”. “Space is always a challenge, so to grow, we need not just more players, but more courts,” he said. “It’s a social game, but there’s also a pathway for professionals who want to make a living from it.”

Padel to the medal: sport sets participation record in Hong Kong, on track for Asian Games

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Tournament held in city attracts highest number of players in Asian event for the fast-growing racquet sport

Tournament held in city attracts highest number of players in Asian event for the fast-growing racquet sport