The Inclusive Padel Tour, the global circuit for players with disabilities, has a UK series launching on 26 September.
The Inclusive Padel Tour UK Series, which begins at Barrio Padel in Nottingham, will follow the world circuit’s format of pairing disabled players with able-bodied partners, and allowing the adaptive player to have two bounces.
The new UK series builds on the success of the Inclusive Padel Tour (IPT) events held on British shores in the last two years at Padel Maidenhead in Berkshire, and aims to encourage more British players to get involved with the sport.
After its Nottingham debut, the series will feature tournaments across the North, Midlands, South East and South West (with ambitions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too), creating a national competitive pathway for adaptive players.
The IPT UK Series is the passion project of Andrew Simister, who was involved in a life-changing road accident in 2022 resulting in the amputation of his right leg above the knee.
He discovered padel the following year as part of his rehabilitation, and went on become the first British amputee to represent Great Britain on the Inclusive Padel Tour around the world.
The GB team on the IPT started in January 2024 with just Andrew and one GB wheelchair player, but has since grown into a community of more than 30 UK players registered to compete.
The IPT UK Series aims to:
- Give more people with disabilities the opportunity to discover and enjoy padel
- Create a structured competitive pathway for adaptive players in the UK
- Raise the profile of disability sport and demonstrate what is possible through participation
- Build a community where players can compete, develop and represent their country
- Encourage people who have never played padel before to get involved
Each event will also include a community session before the tournament, giving people with disabilities who have never played padel the opportunity to try the sport and see what is possible.
Simister commented: “With padel continuing to grow globally, we believe adaptive padel has a significant future.
“Should padel become a Paralympic sport, the IPT (UK) Series could provide an important competitive pathway and talent pool for future GB selection.
“We are looking for forward-thinking partners who want to be part of this journey from the beginning. Sponsorship could provide your brand with a meaningful connection to inclusion, disability sport, health, rehabilitation and one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, while directly helping us create more opportunities for disabled people to participate and compete.”
This is great where do we enter? Where can we find details of other events in the UK?