Remember: in Alicante, during a stage of the  World Padel Tour , the Argentinian  Fernando Belasteguín , then world number 1 alongside Pablo Lima, scored a point that no one had ever seen before. Taking advantage of an exceptional situation where the two opponents found themselves outside the court, Bela won the rally... by deliberately aiming at one of them from outside the court.

A rare, spectacular and perfectly legal action... at least at the time. Because, to everyone's surprise, the  WPT decided to ban it from the following season , without providing a public explanation. The public,  Padel Magazine  – and of course the enthusiasts, however, remembered with admiration this incredible point. And many wondered: why ban it? And why  Premier Padel  Didn't he reintroduce this type of action, which only occurs in very specific configurations?

Bela doesn't understand either

Speaking on Padel Magazine, Fernando Belasteguín himself was perplexed:

"At that time, it was allowed. The following year, they banned it. Even though it should still be allowed.
I don't know why they removed it, because it's a mental skill, a quick reaction to a new situation, one that has never happened before.
Only three people noticed this action: the referee Eduardo Willer, Chingo (very quick-witted) and me."

Security in question… but such a rare blow

According to some explanations reported by organizers, the decision was motivated by  security reasons . Why not... but this shot is so rare and spectacular that one might wonder if the regulations should not sometimes "let it play".

Because, honestly, can we really put this exceptional action and the  Arturo Coello's powerful smashes  which can sometimes injure a player for several weeks? Or these exchanges in " ringtone " where the four players are a few centimeters from each other, sending volleys at full speed? If we were to ban everything in the name of risk, a good part of what makes padel so charming would disappear...

Let the game live?

Yes, this type of action involves a certain amount of danger, but it is one of those moments that mark history and thrill viewers. Fans still remember it, and its author – the "king" Fernando Belasteguín – clearly retains a certain pride in it.

The question is therefore asked:  Should we really ban such rare shots in the name of safety, or accept that a sport also lives off its exceptions? 

One thing is certain, Franck Binisti of Padel Magazine immortalized this moment in 2018. We named this shot  the Cazadora  (the hunter), which Franck sometimes also calls  the Bela de fuera  (Bela from outside) to pay tribute to the one who treated us and who initiated this coup.

Team Padel Mag

The team Padel Magazine has been trying to offer you the best of padel since 2013, but also surveys and analyses to try to understand the world of padel. From the game to the politics of our sport, Padel Magazine is at your service.

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