Kuwait City, Kuwait, November 17, 2025: The Olympic Council of Asia has included padel as an official sport at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
International Padel Federation (FIP) President Luigi Carraro met with OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam at the OCA Headquarters in Kuwait last week, on the sidelines of the inaugural FIP World Cup Pairs, where the announcement was made.
OCA Director General Captain Husain, said: “We are delighted to officially welcome the International Padel Federation and Padel Asia to the Olympic Council of Asia family. Padel has shown extraordinary growth and energy across the continent, inspiring a new generation of athletes and fans. Its inclusion in the Asian Games reflects our commitment to embracing emerging sports that unite people and embody the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence.”
Luigi Carraro, FIP President, said: “It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome the news that the OCA has unanimously decided to recognise Padel as an official sport of the Asian Games. FIP will keep working night and day for the nearly-100 national federations we represent developing the sport in all corners of the world.”
Tariq Zainal, President of Padel Asia, said: “The OCA’s recognition opens a new chapter for Padel in Asia. The inclusion of Padel in the Asian Games will provide an incredible platform for our athletes to showcase their talents on one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.”
OCA’s adoption of padel as an official sport at the 2026 Asian Games represents a major step toward global recognition, paving the way for its potential inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.