31 Aug 2025
Aspire Academy's burgeoning padel programme has been further boosted with the opening of four world-class courts inside the iconic dome.
The new courts are an important step in the development of Aspire Academy's padel programme, which launched in 2023.
A third intake of six new student-athletes will begin their journey at Aspire Academy in September when the new academic year begins.
Following a training camp and tournament in Alicante, Spain, in July, many student-athletes and pre-academy players are utilising the state-of-the-art facilities to prepare for the upcoming season. The regular training timetable will resume in September.
Aspire Academy's Padel Head Coach, Mariano Amat, emphasised the importance of the new courts not just for the Academy but also beyond.
"Having our own padel courts at Aspire Academy means much more than just a new facility – it consolidates a global development project that aims to become a world reference in training young padel players," he explained.
"These courts allow us to apply our methodology with consistency, give our athletes a true high-performance environment, and open the door to hosting official and international competitions in the future."
"The players' reaction has been fantastic: they feel these courts are their home, which multiplies both their motivation and their sense of belonging."
Several Aspire Academy student-athletes have been selected to represent Qatar at the GCC Team Championships, which will take place in Doha from September 15 to 19.
The players are also aiming to impress and be selected to play for Qatar at the Junior Padel World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, from September 29 to October 4.
Having the courts on site means the padel players and coaches no longer need to spend time travelling to and from the nearby facilities provided at Padel In.
The use of the Padel In courts was part of a two-year agreement signed in 2023, as one of the initial steps the Academy took in establishing its own padel programme, and to help lead the way in developing the sport in Qatar.
In addition to the training opportunities, the collaboration resulted in the first-ever International Padel Federation (FIP)- recognised youth event in Qatar: the FIP Promises Aspire Academy Tournament.
The highly successful tournament was part of the FIP's global tour for youth padel players and coincided with Aspire Academy's 20th anniversary celebrations.
Plans are already underway for Aspire Academy to organise and host another FIP event, as well as other tournaments to help develop the sport in Qatar.