Inaugural Tanzania Padel Open lights up Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam. The  first-ever Tanzania Padel Open was successfully held in Dar es Salaam, thanks to the efforts of the East Africa Racket Sports Club (EARSC).

The tournament took place recently  at the club’s premier facility in the city.

This landmark event brought together top padel players from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, marking a major milestone in the promotion and development of padel in East Africa.

Over the course of three exciting days, participants and spectators enjoyed a dynamic mix of competitive matches, exhibition games, and engaging community activities—all aimed at raising awareness and enthusiasm for the sport across the region.

The tournament featured three competitive categories: men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. In the mixed doubles category, Edna Mfinanga and Joel Meda claimed first place, followed by Cherryl Fouasso and Maxwell Kombo in second, while Kennedy Musembi and Sharon Juma finished third.

 In the women’s doubles category, Esther Nankulange and Sharon Juma emerged as winners, with Cleopatra and Silvia Papa securing second place, and Nikki Aggarwal and Rehema Athumani taking third. In the men’s doubles category, Joel Meda and Sami Ghaddar topped the standings, followed by Alvaro and Pedro Munoz in second place, and Abubakar Risasi and Fahim Rahim in third.

“We are incredibly proud to have hosted the inaugural Tanzania Padel Open a platform that unites the region through sport and celebrates the rapid growth of padel in East Africa,” said Kartik Kapoor, Director of the East Africa Racket Sports Club.

He added, “To encourage broad participation and excellence, we awarded cash prizes to the top three winners in each category.”

Padel is a racket sport that is always played in doubles on an enclosed court. It combines elements of tennis and squash, with the ball allowed to bounce off the glass walls or