Doha: Lawyer Jessica Agra will lead the Philippine campaign in the FIP Asia Padel Cup set in Qatar from October 17 to 24. She recently achieved the rank of the highest-ranked Filipino in the International Padel Federation (FIP) at No. 145 after participating in consecutive FIP tournaments in Asia.
According to Philippines News Agency, Agra and Japan's Yoshino Kushima advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIP Silver tournament in Chengdu, China, held from July 2 to 6. Furthermore, Agra teamed up with Spanish player Maria Mayoral Estrada in the FIP Bronze event in Tokyo, Japan, from July 9 to 13, reaching the semifinals before being defeated by eventual champions Rosalie Van Der Hoek from the Netherlands and Camila Ramme Coellar from Mexico, with a scoreline of 0-6, 0-6.
German Streitenberger of Argentina has been appointed to the Philippine team headed to Qatar, while Timothy Alonso Berry was named captain of the men's team. Philippine Padel Association (PPA) founder Alenna Dawn Magpantay stated in an interview that the Philippine team is entering the FIP Asia Cup stronger and more prepared than ever. The women's team will start in the main draw, defending their third-place ranking from last year, and the men's team shows great promise with a mix of experienced and emerging players.
Meanwhile, Qatar continues to establish itself as a central hub for the global expansion of padel, having hosted significant events and establishing Padel Asia. FIP President Luigi Carraro emphasized the importance of the FIP Asia Padel Cup in promoting the values of sport and the role of Qatar as a symbolic location for the growth of padel.
Carraro expressed gratitude to the Qatar Tennis Squash and Badminton Federation (QTF) for its role in organizing world-class sporting events, as well as to Padel Asia and its president, Tareq Zainal. Zainal highlighted the significance of hosting the FIP Asia Padel Cup in Qatar, noting it as a memorable moment for the continent and the sport of padel, and expressing commitment to fostering a stronger, more connected padel community.
