The dawn of February 5 will mark a new chapter for padel in India as the World Padel League makes its much-anticipated debut at the Nesco Center in Mumbai. ‘The Greatest Show on Court!’, set to take place until February 8, will bring together 32 of the world’s top padel players on Indian soil. They will compete across four teams – Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers, SG Pipers Cheetahs, Game Changers Lions, and Vernost Jaguars – with each team featuring a strong lineup of eight players, including five men and three women, along with a coach/captain.

Padel in India has seen a significant rise in participation and expanding infrastructure across major cities, with people of various age categories actively engaging in the sport. With support from the Indian Padel Federation (IPF), the Meteora Developers World Padel League – owned by ID Info Business Services Ltd. and powered by Maisour – will further inspire sports enthusiasts and contribute to the sport’s growing popularity in India.

SOLID SQUADS

The line-ups for all four teams are boasts a combination of elite talent and global rankings that promise high-level competition.

1. Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers
   Male: Carlos Daniel Gutierrez (World No. 19), Javier Barahona (World No. 29), Javier Leal (World No. 31), Javier Garcia (World No. 33), Rama Valenzuela (World No. 77)
   Female: Marta Ortega (World No. 7), Sofia Araujo (World No. 8), Marina Guinart (World No. 22)
2. SG Pipers Cheetahs
   Male: Francisco Guerrero (World No. 21), Juanlu Esbri (World No. 25), Enrique Goenaga (World No. 42), Teodoro Zapata (World No. 35), Pol Hernandez (World No. 65)
   Female: Claudia Fernandez (World No. 3), Beatriz Gonzalez (World No. 6), Julieta Bidahorria (World No. 35)
3. Game Changers Lions
   Male: Jon Sanz (World No. 9), Jairo Bautista (World No. 22), Gonzalo Rubio (World No. 38), Pablo Lijo (World No. 47), Daniel Santigosa (World No. 73)
   Female: Veronica Virseda (World No. 12), Aranzazu Osoro (World No. 18), Carla Mesa (World No. 32)
4. Vernost Jaguars
   Male: Alejandro Arroyo (World No. 18), Lucas Campagnolo (World No. 26), Maximiliano Sanchez (World No. 23), Aris Patiniotis (World No. 51), David Gala Sanchez (World No. 76)
   Female: Alejandra Salazar (World No. 15), Tamara Icardo (World No. 17), María Virginia Riera (World No. 19)

EXCITING MATCH-UPS

The World Padel League will kickstart with a thrilling opener as the Vernost Jaguars face Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers. In the second match of the opening day, SG Pipers Cheetahs will take on Game Changers Lions.

On the second day, Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers will meet SG Pipers Cheetahs in the first match of the day, followed by a clash between Vernost Jaguars and Game Changers Lions. The league stage concludes on February 7, with Game Changers Lions taking on Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers in the first match and the SG Pipers Cheetahs facing Vernost Jaguars in the second. The top two teams from the overall points table will compete in the finals on February 8.

FORMAT, SCORING and POINTS SYSTEM

The tournament will follow a single round-robin (all-play-all) format, with each team playing against every other team during the three league stage days, before the top two teams advance to the finals. Each match will comprise four sets: two men’s doubles, one women’s doubles, and one mixed doubles.

The scoring follows the same format as tennis: the first point is 15, the second point is 30, the third point is 40, and the fourth point wins the game. In the case of a deuce, a ‘Golden Point’ will be played to decide the winner.

During the group phase, if two teams are tied on points, the head-to-head record, based on the number of games won between the two teams, will determine the ranking. If three teams are level on points, the percentage of games won will be used to decide the order. In the case of a tie after the final match, a Super Shootout will be played to determine the winner.

The same doubles pair that played the fourth set will continue in the Super Shootout. It will be played first-to-10 points, with sudden death at 9-9.

WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH

Each day will feature two matches (at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM IST). The final will be held on Saturday, February 8 with the game starting at 6:30 PM IST.

The World Padel League will be broadcast to a global audience, reaching to various countries. Sports enthusiasts can catch the action live on:

Styx sports: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal
Myco: GCC, Egypt, Pakistan
India: Sony Sports Ten 1; Fancode (OTT)
Padel TV: Scandinavia and UK

Dubai is set to become home to the world’s tallest wellbeing resort, according to an announcement made by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE. This new development is part of the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033.

Named Therme Dubai, the resort will stand at 100 meters tall, and it will be located within Zabeel Park. The project is expected to be completed and open its doors by 2028.

The city is investing Dh2 billion in the creation of a new landmark that will include an interactive park and the world’s largest indoor botanical garden, designed to attract 1.7 million visitors each year. Covering 500,000 square feet, the resort will be divided into three distinct zones focused on “restoring, relaxing, and playing.”

“This groundbreaking project underscores our dedication to improving urban biodiversity, promoting environmental sustainability, and providing enriching experiences for both residents and visitors to Dubai,” stated the Crown Prince.

Dubai Municipality recently announced that 216,500 trees were planted across the city in 2024, marking a 17% increase compared to 2023. This equates to an average of 600 trees planted each day last year.

The news was shared on National Environment Day. Earlier, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed the country’s commitment to global climate action and emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in addressing worldwide environmental challenges.

Sheikh Mohammed, the Ruler of Dubai, also shared a message on social media, highlighting the nation’s focus on sustainability and environmental preservation.

What is the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033?

Launched in May 2024, the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033 aims to improve community well-being and position the emirate as the best place to live globally.

The strategy focuses on transforming Dubai into a pedestrian-, environment-, and family-friendly city, with the goal of ensuring residents can access key services within 20 minutes. It also includes plans for developing Dubai’s surrounding areas.

Additionally, the initiative will see the creation of new public amenities such as parks and beaches. The project includes plans for over 200 new parks, a 300% expansion of cycling tracks along the beaches, and a 60% increase in the length of beaches designated for night swimming. A new women-only beach will also be introduced.

At the region’s largest entrepreneurial festival, former Arsenal and Barcelona star draw parallels between football and business, encouraging youth to push beyond their limits.

“Invest in yourself—whether it’s in your free time, happiness, or beliefs.” These were the words of French World Cup-winning football icon Thierry Henry as he delivered an impassioned keynote at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025 on Saturday, drawing parallels between football and business and recalling his younger days as a player, encouraging youth to push beyond their limits.

“Take risks, because without them, there’s no reward. And remember, if you are here to perform, competition is key—someone is always ready to take your place,” said the footballer when asked by moderator Ghalia Abdalla Almaazmi, Deputy Head of the Women’s Football Committee, UAE Football Association, what mattered more – luck or skill. “Success comes to those who are willing to take risks—without action, there’s no reward. And when you reach the top, staying there requires just as much effort. Keep it simple, stay real, and always be ready to push yourself further.”

But funnily for Henry, who scored 51 times for the Les Blues while helping them to a World Cup trophy in 1998, the start of his ‘journey of excellence’ as a child was all about playing for one man – his father Antoine. “I just wanted to please my dad. [At that age] you just want to make sure that you are seen. I didn’t want to impress anyone else but my dad for whom smiling never came naturally. But one day he smiled. Playing professional football and winning came later,” said the former Arsenal and Barcelona man considered one of the greatest strikers of all time.

The world champion’s take on developing a winning mindset 

Henry, who under long-time mentor and coach Arsène Wenger, became a prolific striker and English premier league club Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions, winning the Premier League Golden Boot a record four times, also spoke about one of his earliest coaches Joaquim Francisco Filho and how it helped him develop the ‘winning mindset’. 

“I had coaches along the way. What Filho did was something very important to me. We often talk about being faster and stronger but one of the most important things is how we must think. He developed my winning mindset. For example, when I was younger, I was fast. In training sometimes, he used to tell me I don’t want you to beat anyone but yourself,” Henry said. 

“So keep believing and do not stop. It is you up against yourself at the end of the day. The best discussion you can ever have is with yourself”, he told his audience. 

Leveraging the business of sports as a tool for positive change

Sharing his insights on starting a business in the sports industry, he said: “Sports doesn’t  operate like any other industry. Strategies that bring a company exceptional results might not apply to football. You will be criticised, lose money, but ask yourself, why are you doing this? Is it for money or fame, or are you in it to make a difference?”

“Look at Manchester City – they have transformed the environment around their stadium, created jobs and made the place better. Sports reflect society. It unites people from all cultures, creates change around pressing issues, and allows women to evolve. I hope we can continue to change in that direction.”

Connecting the global ecosystem under the theme of “Where We Belong,” SEF 2025 champions the impact of community and the spirit of innovation. Organised by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) as the largest event of its kind in the region, and hosted at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTIP), this year’s festival is taking place from 1-2 February, 2025.