Padel Promises fuels youth grit

The organisation wants to develop future stars in the fastest growing sport

- Eyaaz Matwadia

It's only been five years since the first public padel courts were introduced to South Africans but it has since become the fastest growing sport in the country with over 100 000 active players involved.

The player base is evenly split between men and women, with nearly 60% aged 35-65.

Now an organisation named Padel Promises is giving its attention to the development of youth in the sport. It has also brought the International Padel Federation (FIP) on board, which has allowed South African youngsters to join the global circuit and earn ranking points, giving them an opportunity to travel and experience the sport overseas.

Padel Promises's mission is clear — to uplift and empower young people through high-level competition, holistic development and the unifying power of sport.

The idea of starting the organisation grew out of the rapid rise of padel in the country and the realisation that its young players needed a proper pathway to developing beyond recreational level, FIP Promises South Africa founder Aadila Seedat says.

It became clearer to her because of the deep connection her children shared with the sport, but the programme still had to be secured.

"To secure the programme, we engaged directly with the International Padel Federation, put forward a development plan and showed that South Africa has the commitment, coaching support, and organisational capability to build a long-term junior system," Seedat said.

"This meant meeting all FIP requirements, setting up compliant tournament formats, ensuring proper safeguarding for minors and demonstrating that we could host consistent, well-run events focused on youth development."