Padel made a hugely successful debut in the 31st UK Corporate Games in Leeds last weekend on the two courts at Chapel Allerton Tennis & Squash Club.
The UK Corporate Games is an annual multi-sport employee wellbeing event that brings together thousands of competitors from hundreds of businesses across the UK to engage employees, raise brand awareness, compete, network and socialise.
Sports as diverse as football, squash, golf, poker and dragon boat racing took place at venues across Leeds across the weekend. Padel was making its first ever appearance at the Games and was one of the big successes of the programme.
The sun shone all day on Friday (26 July) as 40 competitors took part in men’s and mixed doubles organised by Roxy Keshavarz, the Head of Padel at Rocket Padel. Spirits were high despite a heavy night in local hostelries the night before led by Roxy (described as a “terribly bad influence” by one competitor!).
One company that has engaged whole-heartedly in the UK Corporate Games for the last four years is Safran Landing Systems. Their Commercial Manager, Sylvie Darrieumerlou, is a keen player at Padel4all in Swindon and was instrumental in adding padel to the Games’ programme.
Sylvie and her colleague Ben Heuze, who plays squash and padel at East Glos Club, won the gold medal in the mixed doubles, beating their own team-mates Ash Mason and Ines Merouani in the final. Ben won the squash gold medal the following morning – despite another late night on the sauce in Leeds!
Sylvie, who organised a pre-Games coaching session for female Safran staff with The Padel School and Femme Open UK earlier this year, said: “Safran has brought 10 pairs to enter the Corporate Games which is amazing. Some of them had never held a racket before, but we gave them a crash course at Rocket Padel in Bristol and they have loved it.
“Padel brings that super friendly atmosphere with good vibes. I am really pleased with how it’s gone, especially as we were dancing last night until 2.30am! This club is an amazing place and the sun is shining. It’s been perfect.”
Tom Wishart and Adil Tleshov (pictured above, centre) from Air Products, an industrial gases company, were winners of the men’s padel gold medals, beating Theo Farzneau and Heath Penhall from Aviva in the final.
Adil, who won the tennis gold medal last year, is originally from Kazakhstan but lived in Spain for many years where he became proficient at padel. Now based in London, he plays several times a week at Padel Social in Earls Court. Partner Tom has played only recreationally.
Tom said: “We’ve been coming as a company to the Corporate Games for 20 years and it’s my third time – but this is my first medal! I’m chuffed to bits. It’s been really good fun.”
Padel’s success as part of the Games programme – and the sport’s ever-growing popularity across the country – seems certain to cement its place again next year.
