President of the International Handball Federation: Kuwait is the world capital of the sport by hosting two championships simultaneously

- An unprecedented achievement in the history of the sport... and praise for the organizational level and sports infrastructure

The President of the International Padel Federation, Luigi Cararo, praised Kuwait’s growing international standing in the sport of padel, describing it this week as the “padel capital of the world” due to its hosting of two major international tournaments: the Premier Padel Major and the Asia and Africa World Cup qualifiers.

Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday, Cararo stated that “hosting both tournaments simultaneously represents an unprecedented achievement in the history of the game,” commending Kuwait’s organizational standards, sports infrastructure, and facilities.

He affirmed that by hosting these two tournaments, Kuwait has demonstrated its ability to organize major events in accordance with the highest international standards.

Cararo added that “Kuwait is the undisputed padel capital of the world this week,” noting that no country had previously organized two tournaments of this magnitude at the same time.

On this occasion, Cararo congratulated Kuwait, the tournament organizer, B.N.K. Holding Group, and all those involved in organizing the competitions, praising the exceptional organizational standards and Kuwait’s commitment to developing the sport.

He explained that “the International Federation delegation is visiting Kuwait for the third consecutive year... and with each visit, our appreciation for the country grows, particularly for the hospitality of its people, the professionalism of the organizing teams, as well as the quality of the facilities and accommodation.”

He described Kuwait’s Premier Padel Major as the best in the world from the players’ perspective, highlighting its great popularity among fans and viewers on television, noting that it ranks among the most-watched tournaments of the year.

Cararo expressed his appreciation for the organizing committee and its staff, commending their outstanding efforts in coordinating two major international tournaments simultaneously.

Regarding Kuwait’s capacity to host future international tournaments, Cararo confirmed that the country has already proven it possesses the necessary capabilities to meet the highest international organizational requirements and standards.

He pointed out that hosting the Premier Padel Major alone requires significant organizational capacity, while simultaneously organizing the Asia and Africa World Cup qualifiers further demonstrates the excellence of Kuwait’s infrastructure and expertise.

He said, “Believe me, this is unique,” emphasizing that Kuwait possesses the necessary organizational capabilities to ensure the success of such major sporting events.

Regarding the development of Kuwaiti padel players, Cararo affirmed that he had followed matches featuring Kuwaiti athletes and observed significant improvements in their performance levels.

He explained that hosting international tournaments such as the Premier Padel Major will greatly contribute to raising the technical level of local players by providing them with the opportunity to compete against a select group of international players, while stressing the importance of organizing more tournaments within the Cobra Padel Tour and Padel Promises circuits to ensure the sustainable development of padel in Kuwait.

He clarified that Padel Promises tournaments focus on developing young players and discovering promising talents who could become stars on the international scene within the next three, five, or ten years.

In contrast, the Cobra Padel Tour provides players from around the world with opportunities to earn ranking points and qualify for the main stages of Premier Padel tournaments.

Kararo expressed his confidence in Kuwait’s organizational expertise and the high level of its players, which are essential for hosting further competitions within these two rounds.

In discussing Kuwait’s regional influence, Kararo described Kuwait and Qatar as the leading countries in developing padel across the region, particularly through the organization of major international tournaments.

He praised the growing contributions of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Sultanate of Oman, while simultaneously highlighting Kuwait’s remarkable progress in attracting prestigious international padel events.

Kararo shed light on Kuwait’s achievements over the past three years, starting with its hosting of the P1 tournament two years ago, followed by the inaugural edition of the International Federation of Padel (IFP) World Padel Pairs Cup last year.

He added that this year, Kuwait moved to hosting the Premier Padel Major tournament, coinciding with the Asian and African qualifiers for the Padel World Cup, reflecting the continued rise of its status on the international stage for the sport.

Kararo stated, “There are no limits to what Kuwait can achieve,” encouraging the country to maintain this momentum and work on strengthening its position as a leading international destination for hosting the sport.

He expressed confidence that Kuwait will continue to consolidate its place among the top host nations for major padel championships worldwide, relying on its exceptional organizational standards and advanced sports infrastructure.

Regarding padel’s ambitions to join the Olympic Games, Kararo pointed to the significant progress made in expanding the sport’s presence in multi-sport international competitions.

He noted that an agreement reached in Kuwait a year ago paved the way for including padel in the program of the Asian Games, describing this step as a crucial milestone on the path toward achieving the sport’s Olympic aspirations.

Kararo said the agreement was reached in cooperation with the Olympic Council of Asia, which is headquartered and led by Kuwait.

He added that padel witnessed the successful staging of its first edition in Japan this year, describing the event as a major success and another important step toward enhancing international recognition for the sport.

Kararo expressed his optimism that continued support from countries such as Kuwait and Qatar would accelerate the development of padel and bolster its efforts to join the Olympic Games.

In conclusion, Kararo renewed his appreciation for Kuwait’s efforts, affirming that its achievements in hosting major international tournaments reflect its growing influence in shaping the future of padel worldwide.