Argentina and Paraguay win Padel’s first-ever gold medals at the South American Games. Sold-out crowd for the finals

SANTA FE – The 4,100 spectators at the ‘Invencible Stadium’ in Rafaela, Argentina, provided the setting for another chapter in Padel’s history. Martin Abud-Facundo Dehnike (Paraguay) in the men’s event and Victoria Milena Vilchez-Maria Belen Mosca (Argentina) in the women’s event won the gold medals at the XIII South American Games 2026. This success will be remembered as it came at the first edition in which Padel was included as a discipline in the South American multi-sport competition. The ‘Seleccion Albiceleste’ came close to a double in front of its home crowd: in the men’s final, the Paraguayans defeated the Argentine pair Santino Contreras-Ignacio Piotto. In the women’s event, the home players triumphed with a victory over Catalina Arancibia/ Kimberley Ahumada Carrasco (Chile). Uruguay (men) and Ecuador (women) won the bronze medals.

 

Padel’s participation in the XIII South American Games was a success. There was strong public attendance across the four days of competition. 32 athletes representing eight national teams competed for the gold medals on offer. The Invincible Stadium in Rafaela was sold out on finals day, with around 4,100 spectators in attendance.

 

MEN’S FINAL Abud/Dehnike (Paraguay) defeated the home pair Contreras/Piotto (Argentina) 6-4 7-6 in the match for the title. The gold medallists demonstrated their strength throughout the XIII South American Games, winning every match and conceding just one set, against Artia Malugani/Ensslin Alves on the opening day of the qualifying group stage. With this victory, Abud and Dehnike brought further joy to their country: at the end of August, wearing the Paraguay shirt, they secured qualification for the Doha World Cup by winning the FIP World Cup Qualifiers South America. “Gold medal! – said Abud -. Paraguayan Padel has reached the highest levels in South America. Now let’s enjoy this moment.”

 

WOMEN’S FINAL There was celebration for Argentina in the women’s event. Vilchez/Mosca won the gold medal with a two-set victory over Arancibia/Ahumada Carrasco (Chile) in the final, 6-2 6-3. Their campaign at the XIII South American Games was perfect: they won every match without dropping a single set, conceding just 15 games in total. For Arancibia, the silver medal comes after the great joy she brought to her country in August, when, with the Chilean national team, she secured the women’s qualification for the Doha World Cup at the FIP World Cup Qualifiers South America in August.

 

THIRD-PLACE FINALS In the women’s final for the bronze medal, Alejandra Alvarez-Marines Holguin Reyes (Ecuador) defeated Nicole Aragones Miro Quesada-Maria Paula Torres Draxl (Peru) in two sets: the first was won in a tie-break, while the Ecuadorians dominated the second 6-1. In the men’s event, Uruguay, represented by Juan Ignacio Artia Malugani-Higor Ensslin Alves, defeated Chileans Daniel Salinas Ordenes/ Marias Negrete Oliva 6-2 6-2.

 

The Padel competition at the South American Games marked the inclusion of the discipline in the South American multi-sport competition following the exhibition matches held at the Asuncion 2022 edition. This milestone represents further recognition for the Padel community and for the work that the International Padel Federation and the national federations continue to carry out with passion and commitment. This journey is founded on principles such as inclusion, social interaction and respect for the values of the Olympic Charter, which recognise sport as an important vehicle for education, culture and bringing peoples together. The FIP has reached a new milestone in its expansion. This year, Padel featured at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto last month, and the journey will continue with the Asian Games in Nagoya 2026, scheduled from 28 September to 3 October, as well as the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh 2026 and the European Games in Istanbul 2027.