EXPECT intense hits and smash in the FIP Rise Manila 2024 which began yesterday at the Manila Padel Club in Taguig as the country hosts its first-ever International Padel Federation (FIP) tournament.
A total of 122 players, composed of 61 teams with 46 female and 76 male participants from 29 nations will compete in the five-day tourney which will have four main categories— Male Open, Male Amateur, Female Open, Female Amateur and two bonus categories of Mixed Open and Mixed Amateur.
Led by Philippine Padel Association president Alenna Dawn Magpantay, 31 padel players will banner the flag and protect home soil in the competition that will have a prize money of 12,500 euros or more than P700,000/
Magpantay will be joined by female players Jessica Marie Agra, Tin Patrimonio, Noelle Nikki Raposon, Frida Torres, Icah Silvestre, Johnne Paula Benitez, Maria Eliza Camacho, Finna Isabel Lava, Astrid Geraldine Camat, Alexandra Isabel Suarez, Katrina Louise Santos, Peach Lucienne Orbe, May Anne Dela Torre Raquel, Karen Daval Santos, Princess Jarlyn Young, Kristine Alcantara, Mia Alpha Pacanot, April Saladanan, Mayumi Jane Toribio, Dorothy Van Miert, Pia Garcia-Morera and Bien Zoleta in representing the country.
Jason Tamayo, along with Mainaro Mendel Sahagun, Timothy Berry, Edward Driz, Jose Mari Liong, John Michael Tamayo, Noel Antonio Agra, and Victor Mariano will fly the flag in the men’s side.
According to Magpantay, the FIP Rise Manila will be beneficial to local players to get more FIP points for the sports’ world ranking as well as elevating the growth of padel in the country.
“The reason why we brought this tournament here in the Philippines is to give opportunities to Filipinos to get international ranking points. So, this is only the start, and we plan to have four, every year, of the FIP tournaments in the Philippines because right now Padel is growing in the Philippines,” Magpantay saud during the event launch last Tuesday where she was joined by Manila Padel Club founder Fredrik Lonnqvist. “There’s a lot of clubs being built around the country and a lot of the clubs have already expressed that they want to host FIP tournaments. So, for us, it’s very good exposure for the country, for international players and also our players to go around the country to play in this tournament and at the same time, get international ranking points.
“So, this is the most important part for FIP because to be a professional player, you need FIP ranking points, so this opportunity given to our athletes is not just our Philippine padel team but also the Philippine padel community to get the level of padel elevated in the country.”
