Padel
“Padel is destined for greatness”: Sneha Abraham ahead of World Padel League
Spearheaded by big names, Padel is all set for a revolution in India with IPF at the helm.

Legendary former Indian shuttler Pullela Gopichand (right) has become the chief advisor to the Indian Padel Federation (IPF) (Photo Credit: IPF)
In the span of a couple of years, Padel has gone from a little-known sport to a countrywide phenomenon.
Currently, there are over 150 Padel courts across the country, and millions have taken to the sport either recreationally or professionally.
With the number growing at an exponential rate, Padel, like across the world, is currently among the fastest-growing sports in India.
Amidst the Padel boom is the Indian Padel Federation (IPF), a not-for-profit organization aimed at developing Padel at the grassroots level.
With IPF at the helm as the official governing body, Padel has boomed, especially in the last two years, with the sport picking up its pace post the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I think the entire boom [Padel's growth in India] started a couple of years ago. It was just a whisper at that point and until two years ago, it was played only in a couple of states. But then now we've grown to around 12 states and there are 150 plus courts and much more in the making," IPF President Sneha Abraham Sehgal said, in an exclusive interview with The Bridge.
"The kind of initiatives that the Indian Padel Federation is committed to and with the World Padel League coming in, we will see exponential growth," she added.
Spearheading the development of the sport from the vanguard is none other than legendary former badminton player Pullela Gopichand.
The former All England Open champion and celebrated badminton coach has taken on the role of chief advisor to the IPF, bringing his wealth of experience to elevate the sport.
"When you see someone like Pullela [Gopichand] taking a sport seriously, that means the sport itself is destined for greatness," Sneha said.
Gopichand has not only lent his expertise as the chief advisor to the IPF but has also established a state-of-the-art Padel facility in Hyderabad.
Describing the facility, she added, "It's not just another sporting facility; it's a statement that Padel is here to stay."
World Padel League is India bound
Another landmark moment for the growth of Padel is the upcoming World Padel League, scheduled to be held in Mumbai, India between February 5 to 8.
With the advent of the World Padel League, Sneha believes this to be the watershed moment for Padel in India.
Former Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi was instrumental in bringing the World Padel League to India.
"Every sport in its history has a defining moment, and I think for Padel in India, this is it. The moment has arrived with WPL," she said.
"The first season was in Dubai, and now we are in Mumbai. It will be graced by celebrities, Bollywood stars, and top international players. This is what I believe will set the precedent to take Indian Padel to the global stage," she added.
With four teams competing in the event, each comprising eight of the best players from around the world, it is highly anticipated that the league will catalyze the sport even further in the country.
IPF's vision
The IPF is not stopping with just the World Padel League. They're coming forward with a slew of initiatives, chief of which is the launch of a nationwide certification program.
Speaking about this, Sneha remarked, "We believe in doing things right according to internationally set standards."
This initiative, in particular, is designed to benefit both professional and recreational players.
"A Padel club that is certified with the Indian Padel Federation would have the benefits of international collaboration, the best coaching, and training methodologies," she added.
Another key initiative undertaken by the IPF is the announcement of a national tournament calendar for 2025, spanning across multiple cities, in alignment with international competitions.
"The IPF national tournament calendar is designed in such a way that it correlates with the other national tournament calendars in APAC and across the world," Sneha said
"This competition will challenge more players to come into the sport, be certified, and allow themselves to start this journey of taking part in international tournaments," she added.
Although they have come a long way, there is still plenty of distance to cover for the sport to reach its ultimate destination.
For Sneha and her team, the growth of Padel is more than just a professional achievement.
"For me personally, as the president, it is my way of giving back to my country. Each of us on the board is committed to the sport, and we are pooling all our resources together to finally put India on the international map for Padel."
The journey has just begun, and with the support of sports visionaries like Gopichand and Bhupathi, the best is yet to come.