In the heart of August, often synonymous with a sporting break, India hosted one of the most original events on the calendar: the  World Padel League . Its third edition, held in  Mumbai,  , crowned the  Pipers Cheetahs  after a thrilling final, confirming the ambition of this tournament like no other.

A format inspired by the major leagues

The World Padel League is clearly different from traditional competitions on the professional circuit. Where the events  Premier Padel  ou  FIP Tour  follow a classic structure (knockout table), the Indian league adopts a system close to the  closed leagues  as we see in  cricket (IPL)  or  basketball (NBA)  :

  • franchise teams,
  • another  Round Robin group stage  (all teams meet),
  • then  play-offs  (play-in, semi-finals and final).

The objective is clear: to prioritize the spectacle, maximize the number of matches played and offer spectators the opportunity to see the stars compete in new lineups.

A finale of unbearable suspense

The semi-finals had already set the tone, but the apotheosis was reached during the confrontation between the  Pipers Cheetahs  and the  Vedanta Leopards .

  • First match:  Alejandro Zapata and Mouriño  give the first point to the Cheetahs (6/3 against Piotto and García).
  • Second duel:  Araújo and Fernández  seemed close to closing the deal, but  Icardo and Ortega  signed an incredible comeback, stringing together six games to equalize (7/5).
  • Decisive match:  Maxi Sánchez / Víctor Ruíz  face  Sanyo Gutierrez / Jairo Bautista With two former world number 1s on the track, the intensity culminated in a breathless tie-break.

The meeting was finally played in a  Super-Shotout  breathtaking, concluded at  17/17 , which turned in favor of the Cheetahs.

India, a new expansion ground for padel

If this victory crowns the Pipers Cheetahs, the essential thing was perhaps played out elsewhere. By choosing Mumbai, the World Padel League is part of a strategy of internationalization of padel .

Mahesh Bhupathi wants to accelerate the growth of padel in India with the World Padel League

India does not yet have a strong padel tradition: the number of clubs remains limited, concentrated in large cities such as  Mumbai, Bangalore or Delhi . But growth is rapid. According to figures released by several local developers, there are now  nearly 200 shorts  in operation, compared to barely thirty five years ago. Private investors, inspired by the success of cricket and  Indian Premier League , see padel as a sport with great potential among urban and young people.

India relies on tournaments to develop its padel infrastructure

The World Padel League plays a key role in this establishment: by attracting stars like  Sanyo Gutiérrez, Martita Ortega or Claudia Fernández , it gives a media showcase to this sport and opens doors for it with Indian sponsors and broadcasters.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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