Padel will be making its Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan. Everything to know about the schedule, venue, medal events, participating pairs, top players and the history of the rapidly growing racquet sport.
Padel is going to be part of the Asian Games program for the first time at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. The sport will be among 43 disciplines at the 20th edition of the continental multi-sport event. With its fast-paced rallies and special enclosed courts, padel is one of the fastest-growing racquet sports among the world's racquet sports.
The Asian Games debut will bring padel to a big stage in Asia and will see men's and women's doubles competitions on the same field. Padel is not one of singles-based racquet sports, but is only played as a doubles game. The combination of tennis-style scoring, squash-like court characteristics and glass walls makes it a game that is very dynamic for fans.
When will Padel begin at the Asian Games?
The padel competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will begin on September 28. The men's pairs competition will get things started with 16 pairs in the opening round. The women's pairs competition will also be part of the tournament with 16 pairs to compete.
The padel events will run until October 3. With the sport making its Asian Games debut, the participating countries will have to adapt to the format and compete for the first-ever Asian Games medals in padel.
How many Padel medal events are there?
There will be two medal events in padel at the Asian Games. One gold medal will be awarded in the men's pairs competition and another in the women's pairs event.
There are 16 men's and 16 women's pairs expected to participate. The doubles-only format requires a very high degree of coordination, positioning and communication between partners.
Where will Padel matches be played?
Padel competitions will be held at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Centre in Japan. The venue will host both the men’s and women’s pairs events during the Asian Games.
When padel makes its continental multi-sport debut, it will be a crucial part of the sport’s launch into a wider Asian audience.
Which countries could be among the teams to watch?
Japan will be the host nation and is growing in padel. The Philippines is another Asian country with a long-standing relationship with both the sport and the country. A few Gulf and West Asian countries will also be strong competitors.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have developed significant padel communities, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are also among the countries associated with the sport in the region. However, the full list of participating athletes and final team details had not been disclosed by the organisers in the information available.
Who are Asia's top-ranked Padel players?
Among the most popular names in Asian padel is UAE representative Inigo Jofre in the men's category. Jofre is ranked 30th in the men's FIP rankings based on this information.
Japan's Kotomi Ozawa is Asia's leading women's player. She is ranked No. 126 in the FIP women's rankings. Their rankings highlight the growing presence of Asian players on the international padel circuit.
What makes Padel different from Tennis?
Padel shares some of the same features as tennis, but the two sports are very different. Padel is played on a smaller enclosed court with glass and mesh walls surrounding the playing area. Players can use the walls during rallies, creating angles and returning shots that would normally go out of play in a traditional tennis game.
The serve is another major difference. Padel players serve underhand, while the game is played in doubles. The smaller court and enclosed structure result in quick exchanges, making reflexes, positioning and teamwork very important.
When and where did Padel originate?
Padel started in Mexico in 1969 and spread to many parts of the world. Spain and Argentina have been very influential, and its popularity has increased significantly in Europe, North America and other regions.
The International Padel Federation, or FIP, is the international governing body for the sport. Padel has built a structured professional competition system, with Premier Padel representing the highest level of the sport.
What is Premier Padel?
Premier Padel is the professional competition circuit for the sport's top players. The tournament structure includes Major, P1 and P2 events, followed by the season-ending Premier Padel Finals.
The 2026 Premier Padel season began with the Riyadh Season P1 on February 9. The season will conclude with the Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona from December 7 to 13. The tournament features the world's best pairs, with qualification based on their performances throughout the season.
Padel will be included in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 as part of the sport's expansion. With 16 men's pairs and 16 women's pairs set to compete for the first Asian Games medals, the September 28 start will mark a significant moment in the history of padel in Asia.
