Padel makes its Asian Games debut.

November 10, 2025 marks a historic day for the world of padel.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has officially recognised the International Padel Federation (FIP), confirming that padel will be part of the upcoming Asian Games, one of the largest sporting events in the world.

This recognition places padel alongside other Olympic disciplines and follows its inclusion in the European Games 2023, the South American Games 2022, and the Mediterranean Games 2026. It’s a major milestone in padel’s pathway toward eventual Olympic inclusion.

Why This Matters for New Zealand and Australia

While this announcement is centred on Asia, its impact will be global and particularly significant for Oceania.

Padel’s entry into the Asian Games strengthens its position within the international sports community, opening the door to greater government recognition, funding, and visibility across the region.

For New Zealand and Australia, this development:

• Reinforces the credibility of padel as a mainstream sport, not just a recreational trend.

• Will attract more investment and partnerships from the sports and fitness industries.

• Could help create stronger regional competitions and cross-country collaborations.

• Encourages local councils and sporting bodies to integrate padel into their strategic plans.

As the sport continues to grow across Asia with more than 4,600 courts and 1,700 clubs already established in over 30 countries, Oceania now stands at the edge of the next big opportunity.

Kiwi Padel’s Perspective

At KiwiPadel, we see this as a defining step for the future of our sport.
It confirms what we’ve believed since day one: padel is here to stay, and its community will only get bigger and stronger.

This recognition will inspire new players, investors, and cities across New Zealand and Australia to take action.
We’re proud to represent part of this global movement, helping grow padel locally while connecting our region to the world stage.

The next editions of the Asian Games will take place in China (Asian Beach Games, April 2026) and Japan (Aichi-Nagoya, September–October 2026) and for the first time, padel will be there.

We can’t wait to see where this journey leads next.