The French team of padel armchair was present last weekend at the world championships in Spain in Madrid. Back on the course of Nicolas Vanlerberghe, player of the France team. He talks about his crush on the padel and his fight to develop it at the national level.

Handi-basket, then handi-tennis and finally handi-padel !

A 52-year-old SVT teacher, Nicolas has always been an accomplished sportsman. Footballer at DH level, he contracted an illness at the age of 34 forcing him to abandon his favorite sport.

Placed in a wheelchair, he began handi-basketball during his rehabilitation. This sport not giving him complete satisfaction, he launched himself into handi-tennis in 2006 and reached the 6th national rank.

After 16 years of tennis and a good place of 70th world player, he discovers the handicappadel and falls in love with this sport.       

A player in the Hauts de France league, he trains 4 to 5 times a week in the clubs of Billy-Berclau, Marcq-en-Barœul and 4Padel of Petite-Foret under the leadership of Lilian Fouré.

In barely a year, he became number 2 in France and joined the French team.

Carried by his dream of becoming French number 1 and remaining among the best, he wishes to participate in more tournaments in France but also in Spain.

Participation in the very first World Championship in the discipline

Last weekend, he took part with the French team in the very first World Championship along with five other nations. The opportunity to rub shoulders with the best, with the aim of winning a medal. A validated objective.

Nicolas Vanlerberghe
Nicolas Vanlerberghe

The tricolors were directly immersed in the deep end, with the presence in their pool of the future Spanish world champions: "It was a close match despite the presence on the courts of their best players but 10 to 15 years of experience separate us from 'them' commented Nicolas, who did not hide his emotion: “Hearing the Marseillaise sound and representing my country was a moment of indescribable emotion. I hope to live other events at the international level with perhaps the help of the Federation which for the moment does not recognize us.

Before continuing: “The atmosphere and the enthusiasm for this sport was great. We are behind in France on the development of the disabled. There are already Masters organized throughout Spain. At the end of August an international tournament should take place in Paris and why not an exhibition match next September during the Premier Padel Major of Paris at Roland Garros? »

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