Patrons enjoying a game of padel at the Ascaro Padel and Social Club at the rooftop of 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya. — Photo: GLENN GUAN/The Star
Ascaro Padel and Social Club is serving an ace for sports and social activities.
Located on the rooftop of 1 Utama Shopping Centre’s new wing in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, it is not just a venue for games but also social gatherings.
Originating from Mexico and gaining popularity in Spain, where the world’s largest number of players reside, padel is the fastest-growing racquet sport globally, with aspirations of being in the Olympics by 2032.
Often described as a combination of tennis and squash, padel is a raquet sport played on a court about a third of the size of a tennis court that is enclosed by glass walls on all four sides, which also forms the play area.
The game has seen a surge in popularity across the globe due to its accessibility and shorter learning curve compared to its counterparts.
Ascaro Padel and Social Club head coach Jorge Chacon described it as “an accessible game that can also be very strategic.”
“And once you get the hang of it, it becomes quite addictive,” he added.
Chacon said the game is not just about agility and strength but also hand-eye coordination and teamwork.
“It is primarily played in doubles format, which makes it a social catalyst,” he said.
Another of the club’s padel coaches, Justine Minesh, is committed to seeing more locals pick up the sport and has transitioned from an avid tennis player to becoming an advocate for padel.
She said children love the fun and challenging nature of the game.
“We want to get more kids, teenagers and even seniors involved, especially tennis and badminton players who may not be able to play the game as intensively anymore.”
Padel’s popularity in the Klang Valley has grown in the past year, as the club has seen a shift from a majority of expatriates to a local-dominated player base.
“We have a few thousand players primarily aged between 20 and 45 years, with some as young as eight and as old as 70.”
Ascaro Padel Club co-owner and managing director Daniel Liljekvist said it has a country club-like community and atmosphere thanks to its facilities, which include an outdoor gym, bar and restaurant.
“The next step is to attract more players, get schools involved and have more events to bring exposure to the sport,” said the Swede who revealed that it is the first commercial padel club in the country.
“It is a social hub where the bonds of friendship strengthen over shared activity.
“The club also offers a place for people to be able to socialise with great company and good food.”
He added that its expansion to international shores had come to fruition after he fell in love with the concept of the social club in his home country.
“I’m so happy that we have created a second home where people can come instead of going to a bar in town because now they have an excuse to also play sports,” said Liljekvist who takes pride in the club being more than just a sports facility.
Despite the competitive landscape with other padel centres cropping up, Liljekvist remains positive.
“We don’t see it as competition – we only see it as the sport growing,” he said.
“It’s good that people who work near other centres also have the opportunity to play in a place closer to them.”
