Padel’s inclusion in the Asian Games is expected to provide a major boost to the sport’s popularity across the continent, helping it transition from a fast-growing niche discipline to a mainstream sport, according to World Padel League (WPL) Co-Founder Mahesh Bhupathi.

The racquet sport, which has witnessed rapid global growth beyond its traditional strongholds of Spain and Argentina, is now poised for increased investment, infrastructure development and wider participation following its entry into one of Asia’s biggest multi-sport events.

Bhupathi described the Asian Games inclusion as a landmark moment for padel, saying recognition at such a prestigious event changes how governments, sports bodies and the public perceive a sport.

“The medals are important, but they’re only one part of the story. Once a sport becomes part of an event like the Asian Games, governments pay attention, federations invest differently, and parents begin to see it as a genuine sporting pathway,” Bhupathi said.

He said the World Padel League has been working to build awareness of the sport in India by bringing some of the world’s leading players to compete in the country and creating an ecosystem that supports its long-term development.

Bhupathi believes the Games will encourage Asian nations to invest more in facilities, coaching and talent development, helping create stronger domestic ecosystems and raising the overall standard of competition.

“It’s a defining moment for the sport in this region. Countries like Spain and Argentina have built strong padel cultures over many years. The Asian Games now gives countries across Asia another reason to invest in infrastructure and develop talent,” he said.

World No. 10 Coki Nieto also welcomed the development, saying the Asian Games would introduce padel to millions of new fans across the continent.
“It’s always exciting to see our sport grow. Breaking into a market like Asia is a huge step, and the Asian Games will encourage many people to discover padel and start playing it,” Nieto said.

Women’s World No. 10 Marta Ortega said the recognition would strengthen padel’s global profile and improve its prospects of eventually becoming an Olympic sport.

“It’s a really important step for padel. It helps the sport reach new countries and new athletes while bringing us closer to Olympic inclusion. When people see padel at a major multi-sport event, they realise it is a global sport that is growing rapidly,” Ortega said.

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Both players also praised the World Padel League for helping expand the sport’s presence in India and exposing new audiences to elite international competition. Bhupathi stressed that while international recognition is significant, the sport’s long-term success will depend on creating sustainable opportunities for players at all levels.

“Recognition is the first step, but what sustains a sport is the ecosystem around it. The focus now should be on creating more opportunities for people to play, compete and develop their talent,” he said.

Looking ahead, Bhupathi expressed confidence that the sport would undergo a major transformation over the next five years, with higher participation, stronger domestic competitions and improved standards across emerging markets.

The World Padel League’s fourth season will be held from August 12 to 16 at the DOME, SVP Stadium, Mumbai, featuring 36 leading international players. Organisers believe the tournament will continue to play an important role in expanding padel’s footprint in India while supporting the sport’s long-term growth across Asia as it prepares for its historic Asian Games debut.