Padel to be a medal sport at the 2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Carraro: “Padel in another major multisport event confirms the project we are all advancing together”

The international development of Padel has reached a new and significant milestone. Following the announcement of Padel as an official medal sport at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed its inclusion as an official medal sport in the programme of the next Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 13 to 21 December 2026. This decision further strengthens the sport’s presence across the Asian continent and consolidates its role within the international multisport landscape.

Padel will make its official debut at the AIMAG from 17 to 21 December, in one of its established homes, the Padel Rush Arena, a leading venue in Riyadh that already hosts the prestigious P1 tournament of the Premier Padel Tour, the world’s top professional circuit. National federations recognised by their respective National Olympic Committees will participate with an official team consisting of one men’s pair and one women’s pair. A maximum of 12 national teams will take part in what promises to be an elite and highly competitive event, with the pre-registration deadline set for 15 May 2026.

“The inclusion of Padel in the programme of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games represents an extremely significant moment in the global development of our sport”, said International Padel Federation President Luigi Carraro. “Its presence in a major multisport event under the aegis of the Olympic Council of Asia, which I thank on behalf of everyone who values Padel, confirms the strength of the international project we are advancing together with national federations and reflects the growing expansion of Padel in Asia. We look forward to working with the OCA, Padel Asia and our national federations so that the values of sport – excellence, respect and friendship – can contribute to creating new sporting and cultural opportunities for future generations”.

The announcement reflects the enthusiasm and pride of the entire Padel community and forms part of the broader expansion of the discipline, based on key principles such as social interaction, inclusion and the promotion of the values enshrined in the Olympic Charter. These values place sport as a tool for education, culture, peace and solidarity, while opposing all forms of discrimination, doping and violence.

With its participation in this major multisport event, the International Padel Federation reaches a strategic milestone in its global consolidation, with particular focus on the Asian continent. Inclusion in the AIMAG further strengthens Padel’s presence within the Olympic movement and confirms the sport’s rapid growth in Asia, where recent years have seen a significant increase in participation, infrastructure and high-level competitive activity.