Padel: The New Court Culture

THE COURT BECOMES THE COMMON GROUND

For Srikanth Reddy, padel started casually with friends but quickly became a passion. “What kept me coming back was the combination of competitiveness, fitness and the sheer amount of fun you can have on a court,” he says. As founder of White Horse Padel Club and part of the Hyderabad Padel League, he has seen the community grow first-hand. “You can walk onto a court as strangers and walk off feeling like you have made new friends. That, to me, is the magic of padel.” His focus now is on stronger infrastructure, grassroots programmes and competition. “I think India has the potential to become a very important market for padel… There is a lot more to come, and we are only getting started.”

THE WALLS CHANGED THE WAY I THINK ABOUT THE GAME

For Bhaskar Paramatmuni, actor and former professional tennis player, padel began in Spain while he was training in tennis. “I immediately enjoyed how different it felt despite having a lot of similarities to tennis,” he says. The walls were the biggest difference. “In tennis, you’re often thinking about power, court positioning and creating space. In padel, the walls completely change the way you think about a point. You have to be patient, react quickly and understand angles and positioning.” The tactical challenge is what keeps him hooked. The social side adds another layer, bringing together friends and players from different racquet-sport backgrounds.

WHERE RACQUET SPORTS COLLIDE

Vivek Reddy Priyadarshini, founder-director, PAD Play, came to padel through his brother-in-law Anup. With a national-level tennis background and current international-level pickleball experience, the transition felt natural. “From tennis to paddle is actually a very natural transition,” he says. What makes padel unique is its mix of racquet sports. “You play off the glass, which is a very squash court kind of behaviour. You play volleys at the net, which is very tennis, and you also lob the ball a lot.” But he points to an important difference from pickleball: the entry barrier. “You need to have some level of racket sport experience to be able to actually enjoy paddle or the feel of it.”

THE NEW WEEKEND SOCIAL

For Mohd Asaduddin and Anam Mirza, entrepreneurs, padel is as much about people as the game. Introduced by friend Rohit Nanda, co-founder and owner of Kiwi Stars, Asaduddin soon began playing with Anam, friends and cousins. “For me, padel is more of a social activity,” says the former professional cricketer. “It’s about catching up with friends, doing an activity together rather than just sitting at one place and talking.” For Anam, the community is the biggest draw. “Padel is more than just a sport, it’s almost like a community. It’s beautiful how people of all age groups and professions can come together and play.” Asad also sees growing demand for competitive amateur sport. “Adult beginners who are getting into sports and fitness want competition. They want to train and play to achieve something.”

WHEN THE WINNER ISN’T ALWAYS THE WINNER

For Rishika Sunkara, former India No. 1 tennis player, padel brought back the competitive thrill she missed after stepping away from tennis following the birth of her daughter. Introduced by her brother Rithvik, she returned to competitive play with White Horse Padel Club in the Hyderabad Padel League. “After having my daughter, I missed the feeling of playing and competing and padel came to me at the right time,” she says. Her tennis instincts helped, but the glass changed the game. “In padel, the glass gives your opponent another way back into the rally, so even when you think you’ve hit the winner, the point isn’t necessarily over.” The game demands patience and strategy. “It really challenges you to be patient, construct the point, and know when to finish.”

A SECOND CHANCE AT THE GAME

For Rama Rishabh, athlete, padel is less a new sport and more a return to an old love. After 12–14 years of competitive tennis, he discovered it through the Hyderabad DPL and family friends. “For me, padel has become something much more personal than just picking up a new sport. In a way, it feels like redemption for my younger self.” Playing once or twice a week, he enjoys the mix of accessibility and challenge. “You can get on court, learn the basics and start enjoying yourself quite quickly, but there’s still so much depth to the game as you improve.”

FROM LIFESTYLE SPORT TO TALENT PIPELINE?

Rohit Nanda, actor and entrepreneur, discovered padel despite not being a traditional sports enthusiast. His involvement deepened after launching Kiwi Stars in the 2026 Hyderabad Padel League. “I’ve never considered myself a traditional sports enthusiast, but padel changed my perspective. What started as an interest became a genuine appreciation for the game,” he says. For Nanda, its urban appeal is key. “It’s accessible, time-efficient and gives you a way to combine fitness with competition without having to spend hours training.” He also sees bigger potential for Hyderabad. “With the right coaching, youth programmes and regular competitions, the city can develop a real talent pipeline.”

WHY PADEL IS DIFFERENT

· The social factor: Doubles play naturally creates interaction, partnerships and community.

· The tactical factor: Glass walls fundamentally change rallies, positioning and shot selection.

· The fitness factor: Short, fast rallies deliver movement, agility and cardio without feeling like a conventional workout.

· The crossover: Tennis, badminton, table-tennis and pickleball players are increasingly exploring padel.

· The catch: Unlike pickleball, padel can have a steeper initial learning curve for people with no racquet-sport background.