Indonesia is launching its first program to produce internationally licensed coaches and referees for padel this year, aiming to sustain the sport's rapid growth. The initiative comes as padel, a mix of tennis and squash, surges in popularity, particularly in Jakarta. Observers emphasize the need for structured pathways to ensure long-term impact.
Padel has taken off in Indonesia over the past two years, with courts and communities proliferating, especially in the capital Jakarta. Described as a blend of tennis and squash, the sport uses a solid perforated paddle and a low-pressure ball for easier play, appealing to beginners, seniors, and families through its forgiving rules and long rallies.
The rise is fueled by its social appeal, fitting urban lifestyles. Clubs serve as community hubs, while apps like AYO ease court bookings and match organization. AYO's co-founder and CEO, Samuel Hadeli Lie, announced plans for a player rating system based on match data. "It's going to be very useful in the general social matches, and also for tournaments," Lie said. "When we run tournaments, one of the challenges is to really identify whether a certain player is fit for the category that we're running. With this data player rating system, we look to solve this issue."
To build sustainability, Indonesia's Padel Federation is partnering with the International Padel Federation to train licensed professionals starting this year. Akash Nathani, deputy chairman of the federation, explained: "We hope that this will continue through all the provinces throughout Indonesia. The whole idea with the first batch is to train our trainers and then we roll out for all Indonesia, similar to the license of referees. This is the only way for us to upgrade our current stock or data of players from youth all the way to professional level."
Coach Sandy Gumulya stressed the importance of competitions: "Players need competitions, not just training," she said, noting that international events provide clear pathways. Padel's global momentum includes its debut at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, this September, and as a host-selected sport at the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia. Players like Jakarta resident Silvi Ong shared initial struggles: "Everyone was playing padel. We tried it and we were terrible. We couldn’t hit the ball. Then curiosity kicks in – you try again or maybe get coaching. Slowly, you get into padel and start to enjoy it."
