International Padel Federation chief hails Kuwait as world padel capital

President of the International Padel Federation Luigi Carraro

KUWAIT, Oct 31 (KUNA): President of the International Padel Federation (FIP) Luigi Carraro on Saturday praised Kuwait's growing international standing in padel, describing the country as the world's padel capital this week for simultaneously hosting two major international tournaments.

In an exclusive interview with KUNA, Carraro said Kuwait's hosting of the Premier Padel Major, alongside the Asia-Africa qualifiers for the FIP World Cup, represents an unprecedented achievement in the sport's history.

"This week, Kuwait is the absolute capital of the world of padel," he said, noting that no other country had ever organized two events of such magnitude simultaneously.

Carraro congratulated Kuwait, the tournament organizer, BNK Group and all those involved in organizing the competitions, praising the exceptional organizational standards and the country's commitment to developing the sport.

He said the federation was visiting Kuwait for the third consecutive year, adding that each visit further strengthened its appreciation for the country, particularly the hospitality of its people, professionalism of the organizing teams, quality of venues and accommodation facilities.

He described the Kuwait Premier Padel Major as the world's best tournament from the players' perspective, highlighting its popularity among spectators and television audiences, where it ranks among the most-watched competitions of the year.

Carraro expressed his appreciation to the organizing committee and its team for their outstanding efforts in delivering two major international competitions simultaneously.

Regarding Kuwait's ability to host future international tournaments, Carraro affirmed that the country had already demonstrated its capacity to meet the highest international organizational requirements.

He explained that hosting a Premier Padel Major alone requires considerable organizational capabilities, while simultaneously staging the Asia-Africa qualifiers for the FIP World Cup further demonstrates Kuwait's exceptional infrastructure and expertise.

"Believe me, it's unique," he said, stressing that Kuwait possesses the organizational capabilities necessary to deliver such major events successfully.

On the development of Kuwaiti padel players, Carraro said he had watched matches involving Kuwaiti male players and observed significant improvements in their performances.

He emphasized that hosting international tournaments such as the Premier Padel Major would contribute substantially to raising the technical standards of local players by providing greater exposure to elite international competition.

However, he stressed the importance of organizing more tournaments under the CUPRA FIP Tour and FIP Promises circuits to ensure sustainable development of the sport in Kuwait.

He explained that FIP Promises competitions focus on developing young players and discovering future talents who could emerge as international stars over the next three, five or ten years.

Meanwhile, the CUPRA FIP Tour provides players from around the world with opportunities to earn international ranking points and qualify for the main draws of Premier Padel tournaments.

Carraro expressed confidence that Kuwait possesses both the organizational expertise and the quality of players required to host additional competitions under these circuits.

Discussing Kuwait's regional influence, Carraro described Kuwait and Qatar as the leading countries in developing padel across the region, particularly through their organization of major international competitions.

He acknowledged the growing contributions of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, while emphasizing Kuwait's remarkable progress in attracting prestigious international tournaments.

Carraro highlighted Kuwait's achievements over the past three years, beginning with its hosting of a P1 tournament two years ago, followed by the inaugural FIP World Cup Pairs last year.

This year, he added, Kuwait has advanced to hosting a Premier Padel Major alongside the FIP World Cup Asia-Africa qualifiers, demonstrating the country's continued rise in the international padel landscape.

"There is no limit for Kuwait," Carraro said, encouraging the country to maintain its momentum and continue developing its position as a leading international destination for the sport.

Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that Kuwait would remain among the world's leading hosts of major padel tournaments, citing its exceptional organizational standards and advanced sporting infrastructure.

On padel's ambitions to join the Olympic Games, Carraro highlighted the significant progress achieved in expanding the sport's presence within major international multisport competitions.

He recalled that an agreement reached in Kuwait a year earlier had paved the way for padel's inclusion in the Asian Games program, describing the development as an important milestone toward the sport's Olympic ambitions.

Carraro said the agreement was reached in cooperation with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which is headquartered in Kuwait, and its leadership.

He added that padel had completed its first edition in Japan this year, describing the event as a major success and another important step in strengthening the sport's international recognition.

Carraro expressed optimism that continued support from countries such as Kuwait and Qatar would further accelerate padel's development and help advance its ambition of becoming an Olympic sport.

He reiterated his appreciation for Kuwait's efforts, stressing that the country's achievements in hosting major international competitions reflect its growing influence in shaping the future of padel worldwide.