With a sharp rise in regular players over the last three years and an increasing number of courts, padel is currently one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and South Africa is keeping up. The largest padel tournament in KwaZulu-Natal will be held on Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24, 2024, according to Balwin Properties’ most recent announcement, which will excite padel fans in the province.
The tournament will take place at three padel venues: Durban Country Club, Karibu in Salt Rock, and Umhlanga Skiboat Club. From novice to expert players, they will compete against Willy Lahoz, the world’s top padel coach and multiple world champion, for a chance to win a sizable prize fund of R100,000.
said Sebastian Brokmann, who heads up Balwin Padel commented: “We are thrilled to have Willy on board and to provide KZN with this first-ever opportunity to learn from and rub shoulders with a living legend. Willy has won two world championship titles and in padel circles globally is generally regarded as the greatest padel player to date. We are placing a large emphasis of his time in South Africa to be focused on identifying and developing underprivileged players with talent.”
Padel courts are among the amenities available to residents of many of Balwin Properties’ residential developments, such as Ballito Hills and the upcoming Lifestyle Centre, which is scheduled to be constructed at Izinga Eco-Estate, according to Ryan Kalk, co-managing director of the Balwin Foundation and the person in charge of Balwin Sports.
Kalk commented: “Padel is a sport that connects people more than any other – making it an ideal addition to our family-orientated lifestyle estates. Highly skilled players can compete with beginners and it’s a great sport to watch. Lahoz’s presence in South Africa was the brainchild of our CEO, Steve Brookes, that forms part of the group’s aim to promote a healthier lifestyle among clients, staff, and all South Africans through Balwin Sport. The upcoming padel tournament with Willy feels like a full circle moment that realises Balwin Sports’ vision and we are excited about the role Balwin Properties is actively playing to help grow this burgeoning sport in South Africa.”
