During the last month of August, the Continental Committees were formed by the International Padel Federation to be able to develop the sport in a unified way.

A month later, the first meetings were confirmed, advancing in new projects and goals that will be very positive for the members and countries in the process of affiliation.

Zoom’s meeting held last Saturday with the Asia-Pacific Committee put into perspective all the potential that the continents offer. After more than two hours of exchanging knowledge, specific development plans were put on the table: both at a competitive and structural level. Starting right now with courses of coaches and referees,  new competition formats, licenses, and ranking systems so that every Asia – Pacific country can develop jointly and thus be able to look at themselves in the mirror of a neighboring country to continue growing.

 

 

 

Europe and America have also been operational, holding meetings between the presidents of the different committees Cécilia D’Ambrosio (European Committee) and Diego Miller (American Committee) with the president of the IPF Luigi Carraro.

The meetings have confirmed a work calendar programming its next appointments with sports development content, focusing on bringing new competitive formats, such as new formulas for Amateur Padel to continue growing, providing the clubs with tools to attract new players.

 

Without a doubt, the motivation shown by the different committees, working for our sport, will bring fresh news of general interest in the coming weeks with the sole objective of developing Padel worldwide

Dowload: FIP STAR CAGLIARI note

 

The CUPRA FIP TOUR has restarted better than expected. The first tournament after the stoppage, caused by the pandemic, arrived in the lovely island of Sardegna, being the FIP STAR CAGLIARI the starting point of the new FIP’s calendar.

All the organization was focus on the protocols anti-Covid-19 and all the preventions to avoid contagious, making the run of the competition the safest for the players.

The tournament count with the participation of 108 players from 12 different countries. Specially mention to the two Swiss pairs who put on the show playing one of them against the pair number one seeded with a tie first set and the second one showing on the central court their skills in a 3 set match in the second round.

 

 

The FIP STAR CAGLIARI was held in the club TC Cagliari, a unique venue that has held big events such a Davis Cup’s and FED Cup tennis competitions. Due to its experience hosting such events, the club has all the facilities to make the players feel comfortable and comply with all the normative and protocols needed for this time being.

The tournament was played in 5 courts in total, with a Central Court with capacity for 1500 persons, 3 extra panoramic courts, and a second central court in the middle of the terrace of the club’s bar.

All players of the main draw, besides all the club’s services, had the right to stay in the hotel while competing in the tournament.

 

The tournament

Back to the competition, the male’s main draw was first composed by 32 pairs and the female’s reached 23 pairs, from Thursday we have could see a lot of levels, and the fans have been able to watch all the matches online-streaming played on the central court thanks to our friends of Supertennis tv but also all the matches had live-score updated in all the other courts from the beginning of the tournament.

The winners of the men’s category were Iván Ramírez del Campo and Arturo Coello Manso, The revelation pair of the year has not lowered their level and this was demonstrated throughout the competition especially in the last super match of the final, with a tight 7/6 in the third set against the Chilean-Argentine couple formed by Javier Valdés and Juan Manuel Restivo. The final score was 4/6 7/6(5) 7/6(5).

 

  

 

 

The female category, as we are used to, was more even. The negative part of the tournament was for Marina Martinez Lobo, who suffered an injury during her quarter-final match, and we wish her a speedy recovery. We are sure that she will be a player who will have a great Padel career.

The winners of the tournament were the Spanish pair, who started to play together not so long ago and they are reaching already their goals, Alicia Blanco Rojo and Ariadna Cañellas against the French pair Laura Clergue and Lèa Godallier who did a great tournament beating strong pairs in each round. The final score: 4/6 6/2 6/2.

 

 

From the International Federation, we want to thanks all the federations, coaches, players, clubs, referees, brands for being working hard and believing in the turning of this situation, the competition has returned so better times are finally close for all the Padel Community.

For those countries where the competition is not yet resumed, FIP wants to send a message of reassurance, the situation is about to finish and we have to be all ready to show to the world that Padel is the sport of the future that became stronger after this year.

The CUPRA FIP TOUR continues with the confirmation of every day more tests in different parts of the world, all tournaments will be updated here.

 

Statement Committees

 

The Board of Directors has approved the appointment of the new Continental Committees members, becoming part of the institutional organization of the IPF. These Committees, which have been established based on the statutes, and which, undoubtedly, will reinforce, adding value, to the development of Padel in the different projects that will be carried out on each region.

Once all the applications have been received, which have been many, and after being studied and valued, the Committees have been created made up of great professionals who will work to make our sport more solid and larger.

For the first time, women will have an important influence in the decisions of the International Federation, since in all the structures of the Continental Committees there will be at least one woman.

Historical milestones can only be achieved if we are united and working in the same direction, not only in Padel but also in sports, which shows that we are an active, modern and constantly developing International Institution.

The Continental Committees are as follows:

Asia – Pacific Committee:

• President:               Koji Nakatsuka – Japan
• Vice president:    Matt Barrelle – Australia
• Vice president:    Huang Lanni – China
• Secretary:              Gustavo Adolfo Oriol Gil – Thailand
• Member:                Ms. Elham Shirzad – Iran
• Member:                Ms. Sneha Abraham Sehgal – India
• Substitute:            Katsuyoshi Tamai – Japan

 

European Committee: 

• President:             Ms. Cecilia D’Ambrosio Huet – Monaco
• Vice president:   Hubert Picquier – France
• Secretary:             Giorgio Di Palermo – Italy
• Member:               Jan Bonnarens – Belgium
• Member:              Henk Schut – Holland
• Member:              Liutauras Radzevicius – Lithuania

 

American Committee:

• President:              Diego Miller – Uruguay
• Vice president:  Jorge Ramírez – Paraguay
• Secretary:             Ms. Marta Nicastro – Argentina
• Member:              Jorge Mañe – Mexico
• Member:              Sergio Ortiz – USA
• Member:             Eduardo Langer – Brazil
• Member:             Fabian Parolín – Chile

 

We hope that the motivation and enthusiasm deposited in the convening of the Committees will give a great result, creating a rewarding work environment that will lead us to achieve common goals.

Updates XV World Championship 2020

 

We are getting closer to November, when our World Championships, the most important event organized by the IPF, were due to take place.

Regrettably, we must acknowledge that the emergency scenario related to COVID-19 is not over yet in the territories of many affiliated members of ours (while in some countries the path towards the return to normality has been taken): travelling from country to country, both in terms of pure transportation and the related requirements (issuance of visas, quarantine, checks, etc.) is still complicated (in some cases even prohibited) and the news coming from different countries of the world are still not encouraging for the short/middle term.

Having considered the above, the Board – following the route taken by other international sports institutions (i.e. IOC, UEFA, ITF) – has decided to reschedule the World Championships for the 2021. The Qatari Federation has confirmed its availability to host the event and is looking forward to our decisions about the new dates.

This is heartbreaking, because it means that we will be deprived of the most important event of 2020 of IPF and we will have to wait some time to showcase the beauty of our sport and take another step towards the popularity that Padel deserves in the whole world.

The Board of Directors and the Sports Department of the IPF, however, believe that the postponement is the best solution to ensure a successful World Championship: all national federations will be able to restart their local competitions and train properly their national teams in preparation for the World Championship. Furthermore, we are confident that in 2021 we will be able to stage all the events planned for the biennium 2020-2021

With respect to the new date of the event (and qualifications phases), we would like to stage the World Championships as soon as possible, and doing so would be superb news for all our family. However, the pillars of the next World Championships will be safety and participation: they will take precedence. Therefore, we will keep monitoring the situation and will provide you with more information in due course.

The international community of Padel is devastated by the sad news of the passing of Alejandro Gama at the age of 17.

In 2017, during the Junior Padel World Championship, Alejandro Gama was proclaimed world champion by national teams with Spain along with his brother Juan Carlos, thanks to his talent combined with the values ​​of struggle, effort and determination in victory.

We are sure that you never gave up in the most difficult match, as you did on the court, and thus you will be remembered by all those who once met you.

From the International Padel Federation we want to send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends and especially to Carolina and Juan Carlos and his brother Juan Carlos.

Rest in peace Alejandro.