The Malaysian team now has a clearer picture of its standing in the sport after finishing fourth in the inaugural Asia Pacific Padel Cup, held at the Amare Padel Club Umalas in Bali, Indonesia.
The competition ended on Sept 22.
Padel, a sport growing rapidly across the globe, is also gaining popularity in Malaysia, where it’s played day and night. This enthusiasm inspired a group of players to form a team to compete in the four-day tournament, and they received sponsorship from Joy Division Padel Club, redONE, Volvo, Directors Think Tank, Byondwave, and Hydrogen Europe.
The Malaysian team, captained by former national squash player Delia Arnold, consisted of 12 players. They faced opponents from Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Arnold, who only started playing padel earlier this year, was pleased with the team’s performance, noting they had modest expectations.
“It was a good learning curve. Not a bad result for a team of first-timers,” she said.
“Now we know the level we are at, and where we stand against those in Southeast Asia.”
Looking ahead, Arnold hopes that padel will be featured in the 2027 SEA Games, which Malaysia will host, and she plans to continue playing competitively.
“It’s a fun sport, suitable for any fitness level, which is why it’s experiencing a surge in popularity,” she added.
In 2022, the International Padel Federation was recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia and aims to include the sport in the 2030 Asian Games. Padel is already part of the South American and European Games, with aspirations for inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
In the final of the Asia Pacific Padel Cup, Indonesia claimed the championship by defeating the previously unbeaten Philippines 3-2. Despite a 4-1 loss to the Philippines in the group stage, Indonesia found momentum in the final to secure the title.
Malaysia lost the bronze medal playoff 3-0 to India, while Singapore edged Hong Kong 3-2 to claim fifth place. In the semifinals, the Philippines beat Malaysia 4-0, while Indonesia triumphed over India with the same scoreline.
Malaysia finished the tournament with two wins from seven matches.
RESULTS
Final
Indonesia 3, the Philippines 2
3rd-4th
India 3, Malaysia 0
5th-6th
Singapore 3, Hong Kong 2
Semifinals
The Philippines 4, Malaysia 0
Indonesia 4, India 0
Group Stage
Match 5
India 4, Singapore 1
Malaysia 3, Hong Kong 2
The Philippines 4, Indonesia 1
Match 4
Malaysia 4, Singapore 1
The Philippines 5, India 0
Indonesia 4, Hong Kong 1
Match 3
Hong Kong 3, Singapore 2
The Philippines 5, Malaysia 0
Indonesia 5, India 0
Match 2
Indonesia 5, Singapore 0
The Philippines 5, Hong Kong 0
India 4, Malaysia 1
Match 1
The Philippines 5, Singapore 0
India 3, Hong Kong 2
Indonesia 4, Malaysia 1
