The strikes resonate in the large room of PadelShot in Mondeville (Calvados). And from January 7 to 12, they will be accompanied by public reactions for the Torchio FIP Bronze, an international padel tournament. On the world circuit, tournaments are divided into three levels (gold, silver, bronze). Mondeville therefore makes its entry into this calendar and attracts since a few days before the event, 42 men’s pairs and 15 women’s pairs were registered. Around ten players from the world top 200 will be there as well as members of the world top 100 for Ladies.
Padel, this cousin of tennis with its court surrounded by glass, has experienced a meteoric rise over the past five to six years. “The region and the Caen metropolitan area are padel lands,” slips a diligent player. “There are good structures. There are five clubs in the area, around thirty grounds that are almost always full. In Biéville-Beuville (north of Caen), they removed tennis courts to make more room for padel for example,” continue those familiar with this popular sport.
The PadelShot complex, in Mondeville, had already organized the first P2000 tournament – best national level – in Normandy, last May. “There, it’s the march above,” says Jimmy Devaux, the co-organizer. We signed a three-year agreement with the Mondeville town hall. We want to introduce the discipline to as many people as possible, progress and grow to attract the best players. »
The qualifications and the round of 16 will be open free to the public at PadelShot. The competition will then move to the Bérégovoy hall, the former home of an athletics meeting, where a temporary field will be installed. “We install a double parquet floor onto which we screw a piece of land. We have to bring three tonnes of sand,” smiles Jimmy Devaux. A logistical challenge that allows the tournament to meet the specifications to join the circuit.
For the weekend at the hall (January 11-12), more than 3,000 places have already been taken (out of approximately 4,400). A promising enthusiasm, fueled by the announced spectacle: “Today, all the FIP tournaments are of a very high level”, assures Maxime Forcin, 11th French and local player of the stage, who will team up with the Spaniard Adria Mercadal (141st in the world). The ideal showcase for “a very accessible, fun sport, where you quickly enjoy yourself with the impression of always progressing”.
With around 70,000 licensees and more than 500,000 practitioners according to estimates, padel is growing strongly. With players from a dozen nationalities and under the eyes of its partners, the Mondevillais event (budget 120,000 euros) is taking the plunge to put its name on the map of the discipline.
