Krakow’s Main Square provided a perfect backdrop for padel’s debut on its biggest stage so far at the European Games.
With stunning landmarks such as St Mary’s Basilica, the Town Hall Tower and Cloth Hall behind the glass walls, padel’s medal matches at the second edition of the ‘European Olympics’ made a big impact on our sport’s ever-growing profile.
Spyros Capralos, president of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), visited the padel venue and was hugely positive about what the sport had added to the Games.
“There has been a great effort by the International Federation [FIP] and president Luigi Carraro,” he said. “He had many meetings and talks with the mayor of Krakow and with us, in order to have padel at the Games in the best location in the city. I think it was a great success. [It was] top of the class!”
It is, of course, hoped by many in the sport that inclusion in the European Games might pave the way for future place in the Olympics.
On this, Capralos was somewhat enigmatic: “The EG2023 represents a great step forward for a discipline, but there is great competition, as is only logical. The best thing is to look to the future, to the young people, attracting a large audience and then we will see.”
Inevitably, Spain featured heavily in all three finals. The first padel gold medal match finished at gone 1.30am with Spain’s top seeds Noa Canovas and Daniel Santigosa – just 18 and 19 years old respectively – defeating Italy’s Marco Cassetta and Giulia Sussarello in straight sets in the mixed doubles.
The men’s doubles final was an all-Spanish affair with second seeds Santigosa and Gala toppling top seeds Pablo García and Alonso Rodríguez 6-3, 6-3.
Italy took gold in the women’s doubles as Carolina Orsi and Giorgia Marchetti overcame Spain’s Marta Barrera and Marta Caparro 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
It was a huge championships for Ireland, whose governing body, the Padel Federation of Ireland, had put together a national coaching, selection and administrative infrastructure in readiness for their participation.
The Irish men’s team, Sam McKibbin and Sean Neave, made it through to the last 16 where they were defeated 2-0 by Portugal. The women’s pair, Jennifer Claffey and Susan McRann, went down to Germany in the round of 32.
Main pic: © Kraków-Małopolska 2023
