Belgium: “the world center of padel over 3 days ”

Padel Magazine - Alex Pavy (AP), Vice President of Padel Belgium, gave us a very interesting interview, allowing us to see that behind the French borders, the padel is also booming. He is also the Organizer of the event " Qualifying phase - World Championship Padel 2014 ».
PM - At the end of the month, Belgium will be at the center of padel world, can you tell us more about the event?

AP- For the first time in history, a qualifying phase is organized during a world championship of Padel. Belgium, which had already organized the European Championships in Waterloo in 1999, applied and was selected to organize this phase where 5 countries (Germany, Austria, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium) will meet in Ghent, Belgium on September 26, 27 and 28, 2014. Thus, the 3 best countries will have access to the final phase which will take place in Palma de Mallorca at the end of October.

This event is above all an international competition where the best players from Padel from each country will compete in one of the biggest clubs in padel in Europe (excluding Spain), the Padel4U2, only dedicated to Padel and which has 8 courts (6 doubles and 2 singles).

For Padel Belgium (Belgian Federation of Padel) and Padel Vlaanderen (Flemish Association of Padel, co-organizer) this event is a great opportunity to publicize the Padel to the greatest number. We will also have the pleasure of welcoming Henri Leconte as “ambassador” who himself launches his concept “ padel »In France, and will offer a small exhibition (27/09 at 16:00 pm).

Anyone can come to see the matches?

Yes everyone is welcome. And the entrance is free.

How is the padel in Belgium ?

We know a real craze since 2 or 3 years, as in France and Europe elsewhere. And the number of projects for 2015 reinforces our belief that this magical sport is really conquering athletes and the public.

Can you tell us about your journey in the padel ? And how did you fall into the padel ?

I discovered the Padel in 1994 when 2 courts were installed in my tennis club at the time, the Royal Amical Tennis club in Brussels. I quickly got hooked and from 1996 I had the opportunity to participate in Championships in Spain among others and to discover the full extent of this sport. During the many years that followed, as a player, the Padel It brought me a lot of pleasure, satisfaction and great human and sporting encounters. It is therefore quite naturally that I, in turn, wanted to “give” by investing myself differently in this sport. In 2008, Philippe Werts and I then decided to take over the Belgian Federation to promote the Padel and give it all the place it deserves.

How many clubs are there padel in Belgium ?

 Currently, we have 5 clubs in Belgium for about 500 members. And beautiful projects in perspective ...

How does the padel in Belgium ? Is the Belgian tennis federation involved in the padel ?

In many cases in Belgium, sports (Tennis, Squash, Badminton, Gym ... and Padel!) are subdivided into two linguistic wings. The role of Padel Belgium is then to ensure national promotion, international relations and to supervise and harmonize the actions undertaken by the 2 associations: Padel Vlaanderen for the Dutch-speaking part of the country, and the Francophone Association of Padel (being created) for the French-speaking part of the country.

Which teams do you think are likely to participate in the finals of the World Championships? padel ?

It is very difficult to evaluate because these countries 5 have not really had the opportunity to confront for several years. There is more experience in some, more talent in others.

The common point seems to be a high athletic and tennis level in each team, with enormous motivation and enthusiasm to share.

Franck Binisti - Padel Magazine

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Franck Binisti