Padel's Asian Games Debut Marks a New Era for the Sport, Says Mahesh Bhupathi

Padel's inclusion in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya could prove to be the biggest milestone in the sport's history in Asia, with Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi believing the impact will extend far beyond the medals on offer.

As one of the world's fastest-growing sports prepares to make its Asian Games debut, Bhupathi, along with World No. 10 stars Coki Nieto and Marta Ortega, lauded the decision. They believe the move will transform the sport's future by attracting greater government support, investment and grassroots participation across the continent.

Bhupathi: Recognition Will Change Everything

Bhupathi, co-founder of the World Padel League (WPL), described the Asian Games inclusion as the moment padel graduates from an emerging sport to a mainstream discipline.

"The medals are important, but they're only one part of the story," Bhupathi said.

"What really changes is how a sport is perceived. Once you're part of an event like the Asian Games, governments pay attention, federations invest differently, and parents start looking at it as a sporting pathway. That's when a sport really starts moving."

According to the former Grand Slam champion, the World Padel League has already laid the foundation by bringing elite international players to India and increasing awareness around the sport.

"The Asian Games is another important step in that journey," he added.

Investment and Infrastructure Expected to Follow

Bhupathi believes the biggest impact will come after the Games, with Asian countries now having a strong incentive to invest in courts, coaching programmes and player development. "It's a defining moment for the sport in this region," he said.

"Countries like Spain and Argentina have spent years building strong padel cultures. The Asian Games now gives countries across Asia another reason to invest in the sport, build infrastructure and develop talent."

Padel has witnessed explosive global growth over the past decade, expanding from its traditional strongholds in Spain and Argentina to Europe, the Middle East and now Asia.

World's Best Players Welcome Asian Games Milestone

World No. 10 Coki Nieto believes the Asian Games will expose millions of new fans to the sport. "It's always great to see our sport grow. Breaking into a market like Asia is a huge step, and I'm sure it will be well received," Nieto said.

"I think the Asian Games will give many people the chance to discover padel, start playing it and get hooked on it."

Fellow World No. 10 Marta Ortega feels the inclusion also strengthens padel's ambitions of eventually becoming an Olympic sport. "It's a really important step for padel," Ortega said.

"It helps the sport reach new countries and new athletes and hopefully brings us one step closer to becoming an Olympic sport. When people see padel at a major multi-sport event, they realise it's a global sport that's growing very fast."

India Emerging as a Key Growth Market

Both Nieto and Ortega pointed to the World Padel League's expansion into India as evidence of the country's growing enthusiasm for the sport.

The pair said playing before Indian fans gave them first-hand experience of the sport's rising popularity and the appetite for international competition.

Bhupathi believes the challenge now is to ensure the momentum translates into sustainable growth. "Recognition is an important first step, but what sustains a sport is the ecosystem around it," he said.

"The focus now should be on creating more opportunities for people to play, compete and develop their talent. If we continue investing in those areas, I believe the future of padel is incredibly exciting."

World Padel League Returns in August

The World Padel League returns for its fourth season from August 12 to 16 at the DOME, SVP Stadium in Mumbai, featuring 36 of the world's leading international players.

With padel now set to feature at one of Asia's biggest multi-sport events, the league is expected to play an even bigger role in nurturing talent, increasing participation and building a long-term ecosystem for the sport in India.

Bhupathi believes the sport could look dramatically different within the next five years.

"We've already seen what's possible in countries like Spain and Argentina," he said.

"The opportunity now is for regions like Asia to build on that."