The XX Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 kicked off with high energy at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center, marking a historic moment for padel as it takes the stage in the prestigious multi-sport event. The opening day saw host nation Japan secure a hard-fought victory, while the Philippines made a significant statement with wins in both the men’s and women’s draws.
Key Results and Opening Day Highlights
The atmosphere in Nagoya was electric, with fans lining up well before the doors opened to witness the debut of padel in the Asian Games. The competition featured several notable performances across the men’s and women’s categories:
- Japan’s Men’s Victory: The home crowd cheered on the duo of Ando and Nakamura, who successfully navigated their round of 32 match against Lebanon’s El Hallak and Tohme. The match was a tight three-set battle, ending 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 in favor of the Japanese pair.
- Philippines’ Women’s Success: Abad and Malazarte secured a win against Saudi Arabia’s Kurdi and Alabdullatif. Following the match, Abad expressed gratitude for the inclusion of padel, noting that it provides more athletes with the chance to represent their nation. Malazarte added that the team felt "euphoric" to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime event that only occurs every four years.
- Philippines’ Men’s Success: The Philippines continued their strong start as the team of Lapidus and Canizares defeated Indonesia’s Edison and Soemarno.
- Additional Notable Debuts: The opening day also saw successful inaugural matches for Kuwait and Iran in the women’s event, as well as Kazakhstan and Hong Kong in the men’s event.
The tournament is scheduled to continue on Tuesday, September 29. The morning session, beginning at 9:00 a.m. local time, will feature the conclusion of the remaining first-round matches. The competition intensity will ramp up in the afternoon, with the round of 16 matches slated to begin no earlier than 4:00 p.m.
