Smash Padel Cardiff is hosting Britain’s biggest FIP Promises junior tournament to date this weekend in partnership with Tennis Wales.
Running from 4-7 June, the tournament is part of the International Padel Federation (FIP) global junior circuit which provides competitive opportunities and international pathways for emerging young players.
It will be the third FIP Promises tournament held in the UK this year (following events at Stratford and Chiswick in April) and offer Britain’s best juniors the opportunity to compete with some of Europe’s best and gain valuable competitive experience.
The event will feature boys’ and girls’ junior categories from U12 to U18. Full event details are on the FIP Promises website.
All draws in Cardiff will feature players from Smash Padel’s renowned junior programmes at its five current sites. In fact, Smash Padel juniors make up half of the entries — as well as half of the GB U14 and U16 teams selected for this month’s FIP Euro Junior Padel Cup in Porto, Portugal.
The operator will soon open a a new location in Taunton and has a further three sites planned before year end.
Smash Padel also recently secured a £1.25m investment led by Middleton Enterprises, a UK-based investment firm founded by British entrepreneur Jeremy Middleton.
The funding will support an expansion to 20 sites which will all operate with a full on-site team, creating accessible sporting hubs that benefit the wider community and encourage long-term engagement with the sport.
Ahead of this week’s FIP Promises tournament, Smash Padel’s Chief Commercial Officer, Carson Russell, said: “Hosting an official FIP Promises event in Cardiff is a hugely exciting moment for the sport and for the junior pathway here in the UK.
“Smash Padel are proud to be working alongside Tennis Wales to create opportunities for young players to experience international competition and to inspire the next generation of padel talent.”
Simon Johnson, Chief Executive for Tennis Wales, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering on the FIP Promises Cardiff event to bring international junior competition of this level to Wales. Supporting opportunities for young people to compete, develop and enjoy padel is a big part of our strategy for the game, and together with the team at Smash Padel, we’ll deliver a great experience.”
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