Welcoming Padel to Namibia

The fastest growing sport in the world

Kirsty Watermeyer met up with Francois Wahl of Namibia Padel to chat about bringing the “World’s fastest growing sport” to Namibia. Padel, a sport combining elements of tennis and squash, is rapidly gaining popularity globally due to its social nature and accessibility.

Francois admits that he was initially sceptical about padel. “When I first heard about it, I dismissed it as just another sport. But after playing it in Cape Town, I was hooked.” He describes padel as particularly appealing because it is easier and less physically demanding than tennis or squash, making it accessible to a wider audience.

When asked what makes padel so addictive, Francois feels that it is the sport’s social aspect. “It’s a doubles sport, which makes it very communal. People who might struggle with tennis or squash find they can pick it up quickly and enjoy longer rallies, which keeps the game fun and engaging.”

While there are obvious physical benefits, Francois explains that padel is less about running and more about strategic play. “The courts are smaller and surrounded by walls. You use them to your advantage, reducing the need for intense physical exertion.”

The equipment for padel is also unique. “The rackets look like inflated beach bats, thicker and with foam, which helps the ball bounce off nicely and reduces the effort needed to hit it,” Francois explains. This feature makes the sport accessible and enjoyable for newcomers.

Francois and the team during court construction

Regarding logistics, Francois highlights the convenience of getting involved. “We’re launching four courts in Olympia on 20 April. There’s no need to buy equipment immediately; newcomers can rent rackets and balls. With our user-friendly Namibia Padel app, booking a court is simple.”

Looking ahead, Francois is ambitious about the sport’s potential in Namibia. “We’re not just introducing a new sport; we’re building a community. By August, we plan to add courts in Swakopmund and later expand across Namibia. Our goal is to popularise padel, much like in Spain, where it ranks just behind football in popularity.”

Francois envisions hosting international tournaments and perhaps sending Namibian teams to compete in Europe, boosting padel’s profile on a global scale. “We’re seeing a shift in corporate networking too. Padel is becoming the new golf day, offering a quicker, more social way to connect than the traditional golf outings.”

Namibia Padel is not just promoting a sport but fostering a vibrant, inclusive community. “There are no membership fees. It works on a pay-to-play basis, which suits today’s flexible lifestyle. We’re also setting up a bar and selling merchandise to create a social hub.”

More than just a sporting venture, Namibia Padel is a budding community poised to make the world’s fastest growing sport a staple in Namibia.

WHAT IS PADEL?

Padel is a racket-based ball sport that was founded in Acapulco, Mexico in the late 1960s. One of the fastestgrowing sports in the world, it is played by around 25 million people across the globe, according to the governing body the International Padel Federation.

Padel combines action and fun as it’s played by doubles on an enclosed court slightly smaller than a doubles tennis court. Courts are typically enclosed by a combination of perspex glass walls and wire mesh.

A padel racket is lighter and smaller than a tennis racket with a short handle. It has a foam core with an outer shell that could be anything from fibreglass to carbon fibre to graphene. Instead of having strings in the head of the racket, holes perforate the centre.

The balls used in padel look a lot like tennis balls but are actually smaller in diameter and carry less pressure.

A TIP TO GET YOU STARTED:

Don’t avoid the wall as playing the ball off a perspex wall is a major part of the game. The wall is your friend in padel. When the ball bounces off the wall, it loses speed, giving you time to consider what shot you can play next.

GOOD TO KNOW

Where: Corner of Sean McBride Drive and Tennis Street (across from DTS Sports Club), Windhoek

Times: Open 7 days a week from 06:00-22:00

How: Download the Namibia Padel app on Google Play or the App Store to register and book a court.

www.namibiapadel.com