What's so interesting about Padel – the world's fastest-growing sport?

Padel, a game played with a racket like tennis or pickleball, was introduced by the Vietnam Tennis Federation after it was officially included as a competitive sport at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan later this year.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Son (Vice President and General Secretary of VTF) introduces padel - Photo: VTF

On May 15th, the Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF), in collaboration with Vietpadel, organized an event.
A workshop on the sport of padel. The name "padel" has not yet been Vietnamese-ized, so it is pronounced "pa-deo".

30 million players in 150 countries

Looking at the playing space and courts of Padel, many jokingly call it "glass cage tennis." This is because the way the game is played is very similar to tennis, but it's enclosed by glass walls.

Padel is not yet popular in Vietnam, but it is developing strongly worldwide , especially in Europe such as Spain, Italy, Sweden, and France, as well as in Southeast Asia (Indonesia) and South America (Argentina). The data from the World Padel Report 2025 is based on the number of stadiums counted in each country.

According to the International Federation of Padel (FIP), there are 30 million players, over 70,000 courts, and the game is played in more than 150 countries. Compared to pickleball, although it is developing rapidly, the majority of players are in the US and some Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia...

The Middle East is the leading region for padel, while Japan and India have established markets. Southeast Asia, however, is still in its infancy. Padel in Vietnam is just beginning to flourish, showing promise for a market similar to pickleball. In Ho Chi Minh City, padel is still relatively uncommon, interspersed within existing pickleball courts.

According to Vietpadel, there are approximately 30 golf courses in Vietnam, with 23 in Ho Chi Minh City, 7 in Central Vietnam, and 4 in Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone (mostly located in resorts and hotels).

Many world stars play padel when they have time - Photo: MHA

How does Padel play, and is he accessible?

Padel is typically played on a glass-enclosed court measuring 10m x 20m. Players serve diagonally across the court, similar to tennis, and hit the ball upwards. The ball must touch the court surface before hitting the glass or railing. The scoring system is the same as tennis (15-30-40 - advantage) with 6 games per match.

Why is padel the fastest-growing sport in the world? Mr. Le Pham Thanh Phong, Director of Vietpadel, explains: "Like pickleball, padel is easy to play, accessible, and promotes social interaction and connection. Padel is less stressful and less strenuous than tennis due to its smaller court and the need for precise contact points."

Finances are a major concern for padel players. According to Tuoi Tre Online's research, beginners (newbies) need about 10 individual practice sessions or 15-20 group practice sessions to be able to play.

Padel rackets are made of solid foam and cost between 1 and 10 million VND. The balls are similar to tennis balls, but there are special types with lower pressure, resulting in a slower bounce than official tennis balls.

In the early stages of padel exploring market trends, the players were primarily foreigners. Similar to pickleball three years ago, players were still learning and evaluating before deciding to participate.

Padel will make its official debut at the 2026 Asian Games - Photo: ASG

Padel will compete at the 2026 Asian Games.

Padel has an international federation (like FIFA in football) and national federations. At the 2026 Asian Games (Asiad 2026) in Japan, taking place this September, padel will be included in the official events, with medal contention. Therefore, the Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF) is quickly reviewing and organizing training programs with the hope that Vietnam will have athletes participating in the Asiad.

Included in the Asian Games is a step closer to padel's Olympic qualification. Japan, the host of the 2026 Asian Games, has accelerated padel training and development to compete for medals. Racket sports have always been a strong point for Asian countries.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Son, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF), "Padel is recognized as a favorable condition for the development of Asian tennis, and Vietnam has great potential in racket sports. The VTF will focus on training and coaching to build a foundation using social resources."

QUANG THINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/padel-mon-the-thao-phat-trien-nhanh-nhat-the-gioi-co-gi-thu-vi-20260515222740848.htm