• Top padel players from around the world and local talents came together for an exclusive exhibition match, celebrating the rapid growth of padel in Egypt.
• The event marked one of the first major gatherings at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, set against the backdrop of Egypt’s iconic pyramids.
• With its strategic location, Egypt is positioning itself as the gateway for padel’s expansion across the African continent, connecting international talent with new audiences.
Against the timeless backdrop of the pyramids, Premier Padel brought a spectacular blend of sport, culture, and heritage to life with an unforgettable exhibition match at the Grand Egyptian Museum. As the sun set over Cairo, padel stars from around the world took to the court, captivating fans with thrilling rallies and showcasing the sport’s rapid global rise.
The event, held ahead of the highly anticipated NewGiza Premier Padel P2, drew together elite athletes including Argentine sensations Franco Stupaczuk (no. 7 FIP) and former NewGiza P1 Champion) and Maxi Sanchez (no. 22 FIP),
Qatar’s Mohamed Saadoun, and local hero Khaled Nagy. On the women’s side, Spanish ace Marta Ortega (no. 7 FIP) and Portugal’s Sofia Araujo (no. 9 FIP) joined Egypt’s rising stars Mora Hakin and Laila El Memr, delivering electrifying matches that highlighted the spirit of competition and camaraderie.
The event featured the presence of Dr. Ashraf Sobhy Amer, Minister of Youth and Sports, Khaled el Shawarby, Tournament Director, Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation (FIP) and David Sugden, CEO of Premier Padel. Their speeches underscored the rapid growth of padel, both in Egypt and around the world, as they highlighted how events like this help drive the sport’s popularity and build local communities.
A historic setting for a modern sport
The Grand Egyptian Museum, which just opened its main galleries on October 16 for a trial run, served as the perfect venue for this unique celebration. With its stunning architecture and proximity to the pyramids of Giza, the museum has quickly become a symbol of Egypt’s rich cultural heritage. The museum provided a breathtaking setting that underscored the blend of ancient history and modern sport.
Countdown to the NewGiza Premier Padel P2
As the players battled it out on the court, guests enjoyed an evening that married the elegance of the sport with the grandeur of the Grand Egyptian Museum. The exhibition matches served as a perfect prelude to the upcoming NewGiza Premier Padel P2, and guests were treated to an evening where skill and spectacle took center stage.
The exhibition match has set the stage for the main event: the NewGiza Premier Padel P2, running from October 21 to 26 at the NewGiza Sports Club. The tournament, now in its second edition, promises to bring more action-packed matches. In 2022, Franco Stupaczuk, one of the evening’s stars, took home the title alongside Pablo Lima. This year’s competition is expected to be even fiercer, with top talents vying for glory in Cairo.
About Premier Padel
Premier Padel is the leading official professional padel tour worldwide, founded by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) together with the International Padel Federation (FIP) and the Professional Padel Association (PPA).
Launched in 2022, backed by the Professional Padel Association (PPA), over 500 players from around the world competed in Premier Padel tournaments in its first year and played in some of the most iconic venues in sports history, including at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris. Over 110 leading professional female players joined Premier Padel in March 2023 through the International Padel Players Association (IPPA). In August 2023, it was announced that QSI would acquire World Padel Tour (WPT) to create a single global professional padel tour – called Premier Padel – governed by FIP. From 2024, Premier Padel includes 24 tournaments in 16 countries as the tour continues to grow the sport in new territories and in every dimension. As a global brand, Premier Padel also captures the dynamic essence and spirit of padel, with the sport embarking on an exciting new dawn on a global scale driven by the new unified global tour.