Kuwait making a mark in international padel

Article posted by Coliseum, March 6^th, 2025

Image: Premier Padel

Kuwait is set to take center stage in the world of professional padel as it hosts the first-ever edition of the International Padel Federation (FIP) World Cup Pairs (a team competition for the padel players) – powered by the shareholding company BNK Holding and in collaboration with the Premier Padel (the world’s top professional padel tour) – from November 3^rd-9^th, 2025.

‘premierpadel.com’ stated that the major new event for the 2025 season will award the winners the first-ever title of the ‘FIP World Champion’, 2,000 FIP ranking points and a combined prize money of over €1 million shared equally between Men’s and Women’s competitions.

Madrid (Spain)-based the International Padel Federation (FIP) is the global governing body for the fast-growing sport of padel. Founded in 1991 in Madrid by representatives from the Argentinian, Spanish and the Uruguayan Padel Federations the FIP is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting padel worldwide.

The BNK Holding KSCC (BNK Holding) is a privately-held shareholding company headquartered in the State of Kuwait. It holds and manages assets and interests domestically and internationally.

‘premierpadel.com’ further stated that the choice of Kuwait as the first host for this historic new tournament is driven by the resounding success of the Kuwait City Premier Padel P1 event held in November 2024 – establishing the country as a rising force in international padel – and the positive feedback received by all the players on every aspect of the tournament organisation and the exceptional playing conditions.

This extraordinary debut edition sees the prestigious 5,000+capacity ‘The Arena Kuwait’ in Zahra in the Hawalli Governorate area host the center court with additional playing facilities at the ‘Rafa Nadal Academy’.

In addition to last year’s Kuwait City Premier Padel P1, the country also hosted a successful CUPRA FIP Tour tournament (Rise – a level of competition within the International Padel Federation’s [FIP] global circuit considered the fourth highest tier) in November 2023 and held the Asia-Africa qualifications for the 2024 FIP World Padel Championships in Kuwait City in September further demonstrating the rapidly growing passion for padel in the country.

Eligibility for the FIP World Cup Pairs will be decided by the players’ position in the 2025 FIP Ranking following the Milan P1 tournament from October 6^th-12^th, 2025. It will feature a qualification round and a main draw of 48 male and 40 female pairs formed by the players of the same or different nationalities who will compete in the main draws. The pairs that win the World Cup title in both the categories will be awarded 2,000 FIP ranking points while the finalists will earn 1,200 points.

Remarked Luigi Carraro, FIP President, “Kuwait is a special place. It has already written important chapters of our sport. If looking back is essential to moving forward and shaping the future then choosing this venue for the inaugural FIP World Cup Pairs perfectly aligns with Kuwait’s passion and dedication for Padel. A huge thank you to the BNK Holding Chairman Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, Premier Padel and the National Federation. I am confident that our teamwork and collaboration will ensure the delivery of an extraordinary event.”

Commented David Sugden, head honcho, Premier Padel, “Last year’s Premier Padel tournament was a spectacular event for the players and the fans that firmly placed Kuwait on the global stage. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the players – praising the world-class facilities and seamless organisation – played a pivotal role in securing its place as the venue for one of the sport’s most significant events in 2025 and reiterates our commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for the players.”

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