Padel Park India Co-founder Prateek Doshi discusses the sport’s rapid rise, the role of celebrity backing, community-led growth and the company’s ambition to scale from 350 courts to 3,500 over the next five years
Padel is emerging as one of the fastest-growing sports globally, attracting athletes, celebrities and investors alike. While still in its early stages in India, the sport is rapidly gaining traction across major cities, driven by rising fitness consciousness and a growing appetite for community-based recreational activities.
In an interaction with BW Retail World, Prateek Doshi, Co-founder of Padel Park India, spoke about the company’s journey, the growth of the sport, its partnership with MS Dhoni, expansion plans and why he believes padel is poised for long-term success in India.
Padel is still at a relatively nascent stage in India. What inspired you to launch Padel Park India and how has the brand evolved since its inception?
Padel is definitely in its early stages in India, but after Covid, all of us founders played the sport in different parts of the world and realised its potential. It’s an easy sport to pick up, highly social and extremely engaging.
We were already in the sports infrastructure business for nearly a decade, installing five-a-side astroturf football pitches. Entering padel was a natural progression for us. We saw it as a new-age sport that would eventually gain momentum in India.
We’ve now been active in the space for over three years and have witnessed tremendous growth, particularly across metro cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Delhi, Chandigarh and Goa. A lot of this has been fuelled by Indians travelling abroad, experiencing the sport and bringing that interest back home.
Padel has attracted celebrities, athletes and investors globally. What factors are driving its growth in India?
One of the biggest drivers is that people today are looking for alternatives to conventional fitness routines. Instead of spending an hour in a gym, many would rather burn calories playing a sport that is enjoyable and social.
Padel offers a great workout within 60 to 90 minutes while also creating communities. Unlike sports such as golf, which require a significant time commitment, padel is quick, accessible and highly social.
It’s a doubles sport, which means you are constantly interacting with people. Families, friends and colleagues can all participate. There are various formats such as Americano and Mexicano tournaments that make it even more engaging.
Importantly, women are embracing the sport in large numbers. It has become a community-building platform rather than just a sporting activity.
Sports infrastructure is a capital-intensive business. How have you approached scaling Padel Park India?
Our experience in football infrastructure gave us confidence. We understood how sports facilities are developed and operated.
However, we didn’t want to be just a court installation company. We decided to build a complete 360-degree ecosystem around padel.
The first vertical is court installation. We have delivered more than 350 courts across clubs, hotels, residential communities and private properties.
The second vertical is facility ownership and operations. We operate under the brand 7 Padel India. Today, we have over 50 courts spread across multiple cities and locations.
The third vertical is coaching through the Indian Padel Academy (IPA). Supported by McDonald’s India, the academy trains around 200 to 250 players every month, including both adults and children.
The fourth vertical is the Indian Padel Tour (IPT), where we organise city opens, grand slams, inter-club tournaments, school events and leagues.
Finally, we are also the India representatives for Bullpadel, covering equipment, apparel and accessories.
Community building appears central to your strategy. How significant is this aspect?
It is absolutely critical. One of the most fascinating aspects of padel is the level of female participation.
Nearly 40 per cent of participants are women, which is rare in sports. We recently organised an all-women’s tournament in Mumbai and were pleasantly surprised to see nearly 80 to 100 teams participating.
Padel creates an environment where people can compete, socialise and build relationships. The sport naturally lends itself to community engagement.
How does Padel Park India differentiate itself amid growing competition?
Our decade-long experience in sports infrastructure certainly helps, but what also differentiates us is our international exposure.
We regularly participate in global padel conferences in Spain and have invested in the Hexagon Cup, one of the world’s leading professional padel competitions held in Madrid.
The tournament features teams backed by global sporting icons such as Lionel Messi, Rafael Nadal and Pierre Gasly.Being part of that ecosystem gives us access to global best practices and ensures that India remains connected to the international growth story of padel.
What role have strategic investors and partners played in your growth journey?
We have been fortunate to attract strong strategic backing. Parth Jindal was one of our earliest investors and has been instrumental in supporting the vision. We also have MS Dhoni associated with us, both as an investor and as the face of the brand.
Having someone like MS Dhoni helps create awareness among a much larger audience and accelerates the adoption of the sport.
These partnerships have given us the confidence and resources to scale aggressively across the country.
What are your expansion plans for the next three to five years?
We have already delivered over 350 courts and our ambition is to reach more than 3,500 courts over the next three to five years.
We believe this sport is here to stay. It offers a great workout, encourages social interaction and can be enjoyed by people across age groups.
We are also looking to deepen our presence through academies, tournaments, facility operations and partnerships with clubs, developers and institutions.
There is often a comparison between pickleball and padel. How do you view the relationship between the two sports?
I believe both sports will continue to grow. However, padel appeals to a much wider demographic. In my view, it caters to players from the age of five right through to 50 and beyond.
We’ve also observed many younger players transitioning from pickleball to padel because they find it more physically engaging and competitive.
Globally, padel has a much stronger footprint across Europe, the Middle East and South America. Pickleball remains strongest in the United States and India. That said, I see room for both sports to coexist and thrive.
Do you expect padel to expand into Tier-II and Tier-III cities?
Absolutely. The biggest challenge today is not demand; it’s infrastructure. People want to play, but there aren’t enough courts available.
We’re already seeing strong adoption beyond the traditional metros. Chandigarh, for example, has emerged as one of our strongest markets, with more than 30 courts delivered in the last year alone.
Tier-II cities are becoming increasingly health-conscious and aspirational. As more clubs, residential communities and real estate developers invest in courts, the sport will naturally spread.
We have seen older residential projects replace tennis and squash courts with padel and pickleball facilities, while many new developments are directly incorporating these sports into their planning.
Why are so many people gravitating towards sports like padel today?
The answer lies in lifestyle changes. People are becoming more health-conscious and want activities that combine fitness, recreation and social interaction.
Padel provides all three. You can play with your spouse, friends, colleagues or family members. Afterwards, you can spend time together over a meal or a coffee. It creates a complete lifestyle experience rather than being just another sport.
That’s why I believe this is only the beginning for padel in India. The growth we have seen so far is encouraging, but the real opportunity still lies ahead.
