Muscat: Oman Padel Committee is working on plans and programs aimed at expanding the player base across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, developing age-group programs, discovering talent, raising the level of national teams, increasing the number of accredited tournaments and events, attracting future regional and international championships, and enhancing training and qualification programs for referees and coaches.
According to Oman News Agency, padel sport has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, with the number of courts rising to over 100 distributed across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, while the number of players has reached more than 10,000 male and female players. This increase reflects the potential of this sport, particularly amid the growing global trend toward it.
Al Numan Sultan Al Nu'amani, Chairman of Oman Padel Committee, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the committee organizes official tournaments and competitions, develops technical regulations and rules for the game, prepares and qualifies players, coaches, and referees, and strengthens partnerships with local and international entities, in addition to spreading the culture of playing padel in society. This aims to achieve a vision of building an Omani generation capable of competing globally in padel through developing sports performance, enhancing professionalism, instilling passion, and placing the Sultanate of Oman on the global map of this sport, which is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
He emphasized that its guiding values include "sports for all" and striving to make sports accessible to all segments of society, regardless of age, gender, or social background, so that sports are available to everyone across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
He confirmed that among the key achievements in padel in the Sultanate of Oman is the establishment of a competitive system for local tournaments and an increase in the number of registered players and practitioners, alongside the participation of Omani players in regional and international tournaments, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector to support the game's growth. He noted that Oman Padel Committee, through local tournaments and age-group categories, monitors players in academies and sports centers, evaluates players based on technical, physical, and behavioral aspects, and selects standout elements to represent national teams according to specified criteria.
He said that Oman Padel Committee is currently working to expand the construction of courts across various governorates and attract more players, particularly in the junior and women's categories, alongside enhancing community awareness regarding the competitive pathway of the game, and securing more sponsorships and support for tournaments and development programs.
He explained that among the most prominent tournaments organized by the Committee throughout the year are the Sultanate of Oman Padel Ranking Championship, tournaments accredited within the Committee's annual agenda, and competitions for various age groups, noting that the Committee is also studying the hosting of such types of championships.
He affirmed that Oman Padel Committee has established sustainability plans aimed at enhancing cooperation with the private sector, diversifying funding sources, and finding innovative solutions to support sports activities. The Committee also seeks to achieve several strategic objectives in the coming phase, including nurturing sports talent and age-group categories through integrated training programs aimed at preparing professional players who can represent the Sultanate of Oman in international forums. Furthermore, the Committee seeks to raise awareness of the importance of padel by organizing events and championships targeting all categories.
He explained that the Committee focuses in its strategy on engaging all stakeholders involved in padel, including coaches, clubs, players, technological solution and artificial intelligence providers, mental conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, supporting institutions, the private sector, regional and international federations, referees, and academies. He stressed that the Committee's vision is built on establishing effective partnerships that contribute to developing this sport and achieving a positive and sustainable impact for society.
He added that the Sultanate of Oman possesses capabilities to expand padel over the coming years amid growing interest from youth and families, which will enhance sports practice and consolidate healthy lifestyles.
Regarding women's empowerment in padel, Aisha Ali Al Sulaimani, player of the Women's National Padel Team, said in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA): "From my experience, I see that the interest in padel among young women in the Sultanate of Oman is witnessing growth, with a desire among many girls to play the game and participate in tournaments."
She added that modern clubs and padel courts have contributed to providing a safe and well-equipped environment that helps female players develop their skill level and gain experience, emphasizing that the increasing number of female players will contribute to raising the level of competition and advancing women's padel in the Sultanate of Oman.