Padel makes historic debut at Asian Games in Nagoya

The first padel tournament in the history of the Asian Games commenced on Monday, September 28, in Nagoya, Japan. This inclusion serves as a significant milestone for the sport as it seeks long-term integration into the Olympic Games program, following a similar path to squash.

Donatella Del Gaudio, Director of International Relations and Communication at the International Padel Federation, stated that the discipline's inclusion in the Asian Games is “a confirmation of the growth of padel throughout the world” and represents “one more step” toward Olympic recognition. While the sport has seen massive expansion in Europe and South America—boasting 35 million practitioners across 150 countries—it remains relatively niche in Japan.

To encourage local interest, organizers have offered free tickets to the tournament. Early competition saw Japanese players Teruaki Ando and Shinnosuke Nakamura secure a first-round victory. Despite its global popularity and celebrity following, the sport continues to be heavily dominated by players from Argentina and Spain.