Padel Makes Its Medal-Sport Debut at the South American Games

Padel is awarding medals at the South American Games for the first time, with matches underway this week at the Microestadio Invencible in Rafaela, Argentina.

A first for the sport

Padel showed up once before at the South American Games, as an exhibition event in Asuncion in 2022. This week's competition in Rafaela is different: wins and losses now count toward official medals for the first time in the Games' history.

The schedule

The group phase runs September 22 and 23, with semifinals set for September 24. The third-place match and both finals close out the competition on September 25. Each country can enter up to two men and two women, and the draw is limited to doubles pairs, split into separate men's and women's categories.

Argentina's lineup

As host nation, Argentina sends four players into the draws. Ignacio Piotto and 16-year-old Santino Contreras make up the men's pair, while Maria Belen Mosca and 15-year-old Victoria Vilchez carry the women's colors. Contreras and Vilchez rank among the youngest athletes competing at these Games in any sport.

Why it matters

Medal status at a multi-sport event gives national padel federations a stronger case for funding and for the sport's long-term push toward bigger multi-sport programs. Organizers in Rafaela built the Microestadio Invencible specifically to host padel and track cycling for these Games, and both sports share the venue through the week.

FAQ

Did padel appear at the South American Games before this year? Yes. It featured as an exhibition sport at the 2022 Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, without medal status attached.

How many players can each country enter in padel? Federations can send up to two men and two women, and every match is played in doubles pairs.

Where is the padel competition being held? At the Microestadio Invencible in Rafaela, Argentina, a venue built for these Games that also hosts track cycling.