THE Philippine women’s padel team made a significant breakthrough by finishing in the Top 4 at the Asia-Africa Padel World Qualifier held recently in Kuwait.
The team, composed of Jessica Lucas, Alessa Marie Belbes, Rovy Conle Castillo, Anna Christine Patrimonio, Michelle Rose Dickson, and captain Jessica Agra, delivered an impressive performance with two wins and one loss in the group stage before defeating Oman in the quarterfinals.
Though they fell to a more seasoned Egyptian squad in the semifinals, the team’s fourth-place finish marked a remarkable achievement for Philippine padel, which only began organizing competitive play in 2021.
“What an incredible journey for the Philippine Padel team. Thank you @philippinepadel for giving us the opportunity to represent the Philippines,” said Agra, who is currently ranked as the top professional player in Asia.
A lawyer, Agra recently rose to the No. 1 spot in the Asia Pacific Padel Tour (APPT) women’s rankings after securing two titles on the Asian tour.
The fourth-place finish out of 13 competing nations is a testament to the rapid development of the sport in the Philippines. Along the way, the team defeated both Thailand and Senegal with identical 2-1 scores.
Despite a group-stage loss to Australia, they bounced back by overcoming Oman in the quarterfinals.
“Thank you, Coach Martin @martinxacademy, for guiding us every step of the way. And of course, thank you to my teammates for making this an unforgettable experience! We will come back stronger,” Agra added.
Japan, Egypt, and Australia were among the earliest Asian nations to adopt padel, beginning in 2013, 2014, and 2016, respectively.
In contrast, the Philippines is one of the youngest countries to embrace the sport.
“The Philippines is the youngest in the sport. Yet, our Philippine Padel team has displayed exceptional progress and determination, now competing for a coveted spot in the World Padel Championships through the Asia-Africa Qualifiers,” read a post from the Philippine Padel Federation’s official page.
The federation praised the team’s journey, noting that their success reflects the rapid growth of padel in the Philippines.
“This journey reflects the growth and development of padel in the country and the team’s heart, grit, and Filipino spirit driving their excellence on the international stage. Let’s unite in support as they continue to push boundaries and make history.”
