Padel Officially Enters the Branch of the 2026 Asian Games Medal Race in Aichi-Nagoya

JAKARTA - The padel sports branch (cabor) has recorded a milestone after it was officially included in the official competition number to compete for medals in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan.

The certainty that padel will be an official Asian Games 2026 sport was announced after the Organizing Committee (AINAGOC), the Asian Olympic Council (OCA), and the International Padel Federation (FIP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

"AINAGOC, OCA, and FIP are pleased to announce the official signing of a memorandum of understanding on padel which is confirmed as an official medal-winning sport at the Asian Games," the 2026 Asian Games official website wrote.

The memorandum of understanding establishes a clear framework for cooperation and defines the roles and responsibilities of each party for the success of the padel competition at this four-year event.

In accordance with the agreed framework and the decision of the OCA Executive Board, the FIP will bear the main responsibility for the planning, preparation, and organization of the padel competition.

"AINAGOC will work closely with FIP to support the successful implementation, providing support that is explicitly stated in the MoU, while OCA will oversee the inclusion in accordance with its governance and regulatory responsibilities," the statement continued.

This sport, which is a mix of tennis and squash, has exploded in popularity in recent years. This sport has even attracted the interest of world sports celebrities, such as Carlos Alcaraz, Cristiano Ronaldo, to Max Verstappen.

In addition to padel, the Asian Olympic Council in its official statement last weekend also confirmed that teqball, a sport that combines football and table tennis, will also be contested as a medal number in Nagoya and Aichi.

The 20th edition of the Asian Games this year is scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4. The largest Asian sports festival will be attended by 46 countries and compete in 43 sports.