Padel at the 2026 Asian Games: How Thailand Did
Padel's first Asian Games
Quick answer. Padel was played at the Asian Games for the first time in 2026, from 28 September to 3 October at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center in Japan. Japan won the women's gold and Qatar the men's. Thailand sent one men's pair and one women's pair; both reached the second round.
Twenty men's pairs and twenty-three women's pairs took part. For a sport that most people in Asia had not heard of ten years ago, a place at the continent's biggest multi-sport event is a big step.
How Thailand's pairs did
- Men: Rawal and Mocciola lost in the round of 16 to Japan's Tomita and Hatakeyama, 6-4 6-2.
- Women: Natalie Narkprasert and Srirungreang beat Kuwait's Hasan and Sarkhoo, then lost to Saudi Arabia's Fareh and Yamani in a three-set match of about three hours. It was Narkprasert's return after a year out with knee surgery.
The team was sent by the Thai Olympic Committee. The Thai Padel Sports Association, founded in 2019 and a member of the International Padel Federation (FIP), is still waiting for its official registration in Thailand.
Who won the medals
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Japan (Tokumoto / Tsukamoto) | Indonesia (Sabatini / Kusumawati) | Indonesia (Putria / Gumulya) |
| Men | Qatar (Mashari / Rashed Naif) | Malaysia (Yunus / Chin) | Iran (Jamshidi / Shahi) |
Japan beat Indonesia 6-3 6-4 in the women's final, and Qatar beat Malaysia 6-3 6-1 in the men's. Indonesia and Malaysia reaching finals shows how fast padel is growing in South-East Asia.
What it means for padel in Thailand
Padel is also on the programme of the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia, so Thailand's best players now have a regional medal to aim for. More national attention usually means more coaching, more junior programmes and more tournaments at local clubs.
Watching and playing in Bangkok
You can watch the pro tour from Bangkok (see our Premier Padel guide), and play in one of the many local events listed on our tournaments page, from beginner Americanos to competitive club tournaments.
Frequently asked questions
Was padel at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. Padel made its Asian Games debut in Nagoya, Japan, from 28 September to 3 October 2026, with men's and women's doubles.
Who won padel gold at the 2026 Asian Games?
Japan won the women's gold (Tokumoto and Tsukamoto) and Qatar won the men's gold (Mashari and Rashed Naif).
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