The inaugural and successful CIMB Padel Open on June 28 marked a milestone for the bank as its first foray into padel.
Featuring 244 players from 122 teams across 24 nationalities, the tournament emerged as one of Malaysia's largest and most inclusive padel events of the year.
As part of an ongoing, year-long partnership with ASCARO, the pioneer of padel in Malaysia, the tournament reflects CIMB’s brand direction, Moving You Forward, by creating meaningful experiences that help individuals move closer to their aspirations.
Designed to deliver a professional, Grand Slam-inspired tournament experience, the CIMB Padel Open showcased resilience, sportsmanship and the competitive spirit at every level of play.
Featuring four categories—Beginner, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, and Pro — across both men’s and women’s divisions, the tournament welcomed players of all abilities, creating a platform where first-time competitors and seasoned athletes alike could compete, connect, and thrive.
Malaysia's No. 1 padel player and CIMB Padel Partner, Aidan Yunus, who competed in the men's professional category and finished as first runner-up, said tournaments like the CIMB Padel Open are instrumental in growing the padel community.
He added, “Having transitioned from squash to padel two years ago, the sport has given me a strong sense of community and purpose. Support from established brands like CIMB helps raise the sport's profile, encourage greater participation, and drive its continued growth.”
The men's professional final was a tournament highlight, with Aidan Yunus and his partner Christian Didier taking on Spain-based professionals Pol Alsina and Ferran Gonzalez in an exciting and closely contested match. The Spain-based duo emerged as Champions in the Men’s professional category and praised the high standard of competition and organisation at the CIMB Padel Open, as well as its welcoming atmosphere, great energy and vibrant community spirit.
Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, Gurdip Singh Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Malaysia and CIMB Bank Berhad, said, "As CIMB’s first foray into padel, it has been encouraging to see strong participation and enthusiasm for the sport. Padel remains an emerging discipline, and the way this tournament has come together reflects its growing momentum. We are excited to see the sport grow to bigger places from here."
The strong response to the tournament underscores the growing global momentum behind padel and its emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.
Created to support the growing padel community in Malaysia and further develop the local ecosystem, the CIMB Padel Open saw strong local engagement, with Malaysian participants making up nearly 78% of the player base. With participants ranging from teenagers to individuals over 50, the tournament also highlighted padel’s appeal as a truly multi-generational sport.
As padel continues to gain momentum globally, CIMB remains committed to creating more opportunities that inspire Malaysians to challenge themselves, pursue new passions and build stronger communities. By supporting platforms like the CIMB Padel Open and making the sport more accessible through complimentary court access for CIMB Preferred clients, the Bank continues to bring its Moving You Forward direction to life—empowering individuals to take their next step, both on and off the court.
