Who knows if Enrique Corcuera, a rich Mexican businessman, when he “invented” the padel game in the 1960s, would have ever imagined that within a few decades it would have such a significant growth in players. From Mexico, thanks to a friend of Corcuera, he arrived in Spain, from there to Argentina and then throughout the world. In Italy the “padel” phenomenon is on the rise with over 1 million practitioners and over 100,000 members to such an extent that the tennis federation (FIT) has changed its name to FITP. The various television networks are also investing heavily in watching the most important tournaments in the world with arenas always full of fans and the television share which is giving excellent results.
Padel arrived in Brindisi a few years ago with the Salento Padel Tour organized by Francesco Giorgino which saw the participation of important sports figures such as Marcolin, Di Biagio, Fiore and Nick Amoruso and with the first outdoor courts built at the Tennis Club Toast by Flavia Pennetta. Then a real boom in camps and clubs scattered throughout the city with the number of practitioners and enthusiasts growing day after day. For some it is just a trend as happened some time ago for five-a-side football but the reality appears completely different. Padel brings together entire families with husbands, wives and children who all try their hand at it together. It is a spectacular sport, fun to practice and watch and, for those above the “beginner” level, also physically demanding. Furthermore, in the various clubs, in addition to the normal amateur activity, there are real padel schools with teachers (many of whom have illustrious tennis backgrounds) who teach the many shots, strategies, playing techniques and much more. Furthermore, during the week we organize tournaments for all levels of play, “guided” games, private lessons and many “mystery” tournaments where the real aim is healthy fun and the pleasure of being together. Furthermore, it is a sport where former athletes from other disciplines “recycle” themselves to stay in shape or athletes who are still active take advantage of it during rest periods to play to stay in shape thanks to the specificities of the discipline itself. It is not difficult to see women-only or mixed matches, which rarely happens in other sports for easily understandable physical reasons. The city’s clubs are very active also because they organize tournaments whose proceeds go towards social initiatives and it is not difficult to see some Lega A basketball referees playing on the morning of the match of the local Brindisi team. Even during these periods of the European Football Championships, evenings are organized where everyone cheers together and the beautiful evenings of June are spent together with many friends, perhaps enjoying a pizza or a cold drink.
Even during the G7 days, many representatives of the police force took advantage of the few moments of relaxation to relax with games between colleagues, demonstrating the penetration of this sport.
From a purely sporting point of view, the city of Brindisi is not second in Puglia to any other province since last weekend three teams (two men’s and one women’s) won their playoffs, deservedly gaining promotion to Serie C. of the women’s and men’s teams of the Sporting Club Bellaria (which is also a Federal Centre) and of the men’s teams of the Jpadel Arena who defeated the teams from Taranto, Bari and Lecce respectively, bringing the city of Brindisi to have three teams in the next Serie C championship. An important result that rewards the commitment of the various clubs, the investments made by their owners to always have perfect playing fields and high-level organizations that help achieve these goals. Brindisi will therefore have the city derby in Serie C next season but above all the city is becoming the point of reference for Apulian padel with athletes who are part of the national team.
One of these girls (eighteen-year-old Flavia Coppola) plays in Serie B Bellaria Brindisi which, next weekend, will play the playoffs for Serie A in Frascati together with her teammates. A truly important showcase for president Giorgino’s team which would give even greater visibility to the city and to the various clubs whose technical work is now appreciated beyond regional borders.
“I am happy with this result for Brindisi sport – says Francesco Giorgino, president and Sports Director of the Bellaria Brindisi Sporting Club – and also for the city’s padel. Having three teams win against three different provinces is wonderful especially if one of these is female. I am happy because the journey we have taken has been long, we started as the last province of Puglia and we are catching up day after day. It is also nice to see how more and more people are approaching this sport, including many children, and I hope for the synergy of local clubs to carry forward the Brindisi project as the first city in Puglia for padel. Thank you all!!!”
Dario Recchia
