India relies on tournaments to develop its padel infrastructure

Padel is gradually making its way into India, driven by the holding of major international tournaments and increasing exposure via the media, celebrities and exclusive clubs Although the country is still lagging behind in terms of infrastructure, the momentum is well underway in the major cities, particularly Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai .

Sources: News Reports, Strategy & analysis , Playtomic

Slow but promising growth

The development of padel in India remains hampered by high infrastructure costs . However, sport is gaining ground by gradually extending from large metropolises to secondary cities , even if significant short-term growth is not expected. The phenomenon particularly affects corporate India , with private clubs reserved for members seeking to diversify their sports offering.

India relies on tournaments to develop its padel infrastructure

Cities ahead of the rest of the country

Mumbai, : a real padel hotspot, the city had between 50 and 60 plots in 2024 .
Delhi. : presence of several clubs, such as house of Padel , REPPP , Vasant Vihar Club , or Panchshila Club .
Chandigarh , Hyderabad , Chennai et Bengaluru are identified as emerging cities for padel.

Furthermore, the operator Padel Park is on the way to becoming the largest network of padel clubs in India .

Tournaments and stars to boost visibility

The media coverage of sport is accelerating thanks to the commitment of influential celebrities , like the Bollywood actors , cricketers , or tennis champions . The organization of official competitions, such as the FIP India Padel Open , reinforces the attractiveness of padel in a country still not very accustomed to this sport.

The former tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi sums up the issue well:

“Padel is growing rapidly in India, and it’s great to bring in highly ranked players. This should energize all sports and padel fans. The sport could see a 400% growth in the number of courts in the coming years.”

A huge potential market despite a still restricted base

Only 5% of Indians today have sufficient income to pursue premium activities , but it still represents 60 million people i.e the equivalent of the total population of countries like Italy or Spain , where padel is already experiencing impressive growth.

The development of padel in India today is based on large-scale events, support from local celebrities and the desire to structure an offer around major cities. If the infrastructure follows, the country could quickly establish itself as a major player on the Asian scene.

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.