Cross-Country Community to Celebrities Flock to Padelink 2025

The atmosphere at Mr Padel Court, Cipete, Jakarta, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, felt different. The racket of balls bouncing off padel glass mixed with the laughter, cheers, and spirit of players from two different countries. A total of 20 padel communities from Indonesia and Malaysia gathered for the Padelink 2025 tournament, an event not just about winning, but also about cross-border togetherness.

"Padelink, true to its name, is about us connecting all communities to join here. So there's an element of community gathering," said Padelink Project Director, Zeyhan Fitra Fadillah, during the tournament.

As its inaugural competition, Padelink 2025 was designed not merely as a contest, but also as a meeting place for padel enthusiasts who previously only knew each other through social media. According to Zeyhan, Padelink's major mission is to build a solid padel ecosystem in Southeast Asia, starting from Indonesia and Malaysia.

"Going forward, God willing, if it runs smoothly and they are happy, we will make it regular, an agenda every four months, possibly annual, or we could turn it into a (padel) league," added Zeyhan, who is also CEO of Terus Group.

Amidst the trend of sports increasingly shifting towards lifestyle, padel is finding its place among Indonesia's young urbanites. Born in Mexico in 1969, this sport, a blend of tennis and squash with a strong social element, is now part of an active lifestyle.

More Than a Tournament, A Networking and Sharing Spirit Event

The communities arrived with high spirits. Some came from Bali, Bandung, even Kuala Lumpur. They sent their best players to compete for cash prizes and free travel tickets from Citylink and Traveloka.

However, for some participants, winning wasn't the only goal. 

"There are so many (padel communities), I'm also active in communities, there's Disco, there's Tuespac (Tuesday Padel Club)... in Jakarta, this community really gathers padel people, so Jakarta is really cool," said Audy Pratama Subagdja from Padel ISS.

For Audy, Padelink is more than just a match; it's about connecting relations, building networks, and expanding circles with new friends.

This trend also aligns with a global phenomenon, where padel has become one of the world's fastest-growing sports. According to The Padel Global Report 2024, the number of padel courts in Asia increased by up to 45% in the last two years, with Indonesia on the list of countries with the fastest-growing communities.

Sport and Lifestyle Collaboration

This event also received full support from Citylink, one of the tournament's main partners. 

"I hope with this event we can interact more warmly, strengthen relationships, and foster more positive connections. May it become an enjoyable, healthy event that nurtures relationships among all of us," said Citylink Operational Director, Arry Kalzaman Sudarmadji.

Collaboration between the world of sports and lifestyle is indeed becoming a new trend. Padel is now not just physical activity, but also a symbol of modern social gatherings—a place where young professionals, celebrities, and sports lovers can unite in positive energy.

This was also evident in the All Stars Fun Match category, featuring big names like Atta Halilintar, Ade Govinda, Thoriq Halilintar, Mikha Hernan, and Ben Sihombing. Their participation made the tournament atmosphere even livelier and became an attraction for the younger generation starting to be curious about this sport.

Besides the All Stars category, Padelink 2025 also competed in Men's Bronze, Women's Lower Bronze, and Mix Lower Bronze, giving space for players of various levels to showcase their skills.

Padel: A New Sport, An Old Spirit

Padel teaches simple things we often forget amidst routine: teamwork, communication, and sportsmanship. Behind the court glass, every shot isn't just about technique, but also about how someone enjoys the moment, learns, and grows together.

With high enthusiasm from the communities and support from major sponsors, Padelink has the potential to grow into Indonesia's first international-class community padel league. If that happens, this tournament could become a new milestone for padel sports in the homeland, a blend of sport, friendship, and lifestyle reflecting the spirit of today's young urban generation.