Padel is set to achieve a historic milestone as it makes its official debut as a medal sport at the XX Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Running from September 28 to October 3, the tournament at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center marks a significant expansion for the sport within the Olympic movement.
Tournament Draws and Schedule
The competition will feature a wide array of talent from across the continent, including representatives from Japan, the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. The tournament is divided into two primary draws:
- Men’s Draw: This bracket features 20 pairs competing for the inaugural continental title. The field is led by the Qatari duo of Mashari Nawaf and Rashed Nawaf Naif, followed by Iranian pair Amir Mohamad Jamshidi and Farsad Shahi, and the Malaysian team of Christian Didier Chin Zao Quan and Aidan Yunus. Other nations vying for medals include Japan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
- Women’s Draw: A total of 23 pairs will compete in the women’s tournament. The top seeds are the Japanese pair Kotomi Ozawa and Chifumi Sato, followed by their compatriots Kae Tokumoto and Saki Tsukamoto. Other notable contenders include Indonesian pairs led by Novela Putria and Beatrice Gumulya, alongside delegations from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran.
The competition schedule is structured over six days to determine the first Asian medalists in padel history:
- September 28: Opening elimination rounds begin.
- September 29: Elimination rounds conclude in the morning, with the Round of 16 starting in the afternoon.
- September 30: The Round of 16 continues.
- October 1: The tournament advances to the quarter-finals.
- October 2: The semi-final matches take place.
- October 3: The tournament concludes with the bronze medal and gold medal matches.
This inclusion follows successful appearances at the Mediterranean and South American Games, further cementing the sport's rapid growth through partnerships between the International Padel Federation (FIP), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC).
