Back-to-back placements at two Asian multi-sport events in 2026 mark a turning point in padel’s Olympic movement integration — and a commercial signal for brands targeting the Asia-Pacific market.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed that padel will be included as a medal discipline in the program of the upcoming Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Dec. 13-21, 2026. Padel will make its official debut at the AIMAG at the Padel Rush Arena, a venue in Riyadh that already hosts the P1 tournament of the Premier Padel Tour, the world’s top professional circuit. National federations that are recognized by their National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will send an official team consisting of one men’s pair and one women’s pair. Up to 12 national teams will take part in the event, with the pre-registration deadline set for May 15, 2026.
“The inclusion of Padel in the program of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games represents an extremely significant moment in the global development of our sport”, said Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation.
Inclusion in the AIMAG confirms padel’s rapid growth in Asia, where recent years have seen a significant increase in participation, infrastructure and high-level competitive activity, while further strengthening the sport’s presence within the Olympic movement, said the International Padel Federation.
Padel was also recently confirmed as a medal sport at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, which will take place from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, 2026, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee (AINAGOC), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the International Padel Federation.
