KUWAIT: The Premier Padel Kuwait P1 tournament, hosted by BNK Holding, has reached the thrilling round of 32, with competition heating up as top-tier players battle for the prestigious €470,000 prize. Players are relishing their experience in Kuwait, lauding the tournament’s seamless organization, with accommodations conveniently close to The Arena at 360 Mall and Rafa Nadal Academy, making it easy for them to move between matches and enjoy the city.

In the women’s competition, Alejandra Salazar Bengoechea and Jessica Castello Lopez claimed victory over Sofia Saiz Vallejo and Marta Lobo, while Tamara Icardo Alcorisa and Carolina Jensen Sirvent defeated Katerina Sharifova and Marta Marrero Marrero. Barbara Caldera Sanchez and Lucia Rufo Ortiz overcame Ana Martinez and Alix Collombon, with Lucia Sainz Prelegri and Patricia Llaguno Zielinski prevailing against Giorgia Marchetti and Carolina Pappacena. Marta Talavan and Julia Bidahorria triumphed over Marta Calvo Santamaria and Sandra Pujals Perez, and Veronica Virseda and Aranzazu Osoro Ulrich advanced after beating Marta Guinart Espana and Veronica Iglesias Segador.

In the men’s matches, Javi Diestro and Christian Gutierrez emerged victorious over Miguel Lamperti and Adrian Santigosa Sastre. Fran Guerrero and Javier Bautista moved forward by defeating Juan Ruiz and Victor Ruiz, while Gonzalo Rubio and Pablo Lijo won their contest against Anton Chozas and Lucas Augsburger.

BNK Holding, led by Chairman Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, has positioned this inaugural Premier Padel event as a major moment in Kuwait’s sporting history. Drawing over 150 elite global padel athletes, the tournament marks Kuwait’s entry onto the world padel stage, with BNK striving to foster a connection between local audiences and the international padel community, creating a lasting impact in the region’s sports landscape.

Padel, a sport originating in 1969 with Enrique Corcuera of Acapulco, Mexico, has seen rapid growth in popularity in Kuwait and the Middle East. This dynamic game, blending elements of tennis and squash, is played on an enclosed court surrounded by glass walls, where strategic play often outweighs sheer power. Known for its social aspect, padel is typically played in doubles and has an accessible learning curve, appealing to a broad age range. The sport follows a best-of-three-sets format, with scoring similar to tennis and an option for a “Golden Point” to settle deuce situations, keeping play engaging and competitive.

As the Kuwait P1 tournament heads toward its final rounds, players and fans alike are captivated by the skill and intensity on display, highlighting padel’s growing influence in the sports world.