The rise of padel in Phnom Penh: an exciting new sport conquers the Cambodian capital

Phnom Penh is currently witnessing the rise in popularity of a new sporting phenomenon: padel. A racket sport combining tennis and squash, played in doubles on a smaller, enclosed court, padel is attracting a wide audience thanks to its accessibility and playfulness.

Popular in Europe, Latin America and, more recently, Asia, padel is finally taking root in Phnom Penh with the opening in 2024 of the country's first official padel club, Khmer Padel, located on the very central avenue Preah Norodom

The story of this establishment is one of collaboration between local and regional players.

The project was initiated by Confluences, a company specialising in the development of innovative projects in Cambodia, in partnership with VietPadel, a Vietnamese padel chain already well established with 3 clubs and over 1,000 regular players in Ho Chi Minh City. This alliance made it possible to carry out a full market study, and then to choose a strategic location in the heart of Phnom Penh, responding to the growing interest of local young people for new and dynamic sports.

Khmer Padel: a sports hub in the heart of Phnom Penh

The Khmer Padel club, which was officially inaugurated in October 2024, currently has three indoor courts with plans to extend. It also has a friendly restaurant and a relaxation area where players and spectators can meet and chat. This modern, accessible setting is fast making Khmer Padel a major attraction for the city's sports fans.

Padel's growing popularity is also evident in the local community. In just a few months, the club has attracted around a hundred regular players, with a steady increase in new members. This success is largely due to the ease with which the game can be learnt and its strong social dimension, which appeals to novices and experienced players alike. Friendly events and competitions are also organised on a regular basis, bringing together enthusiasts and boosting the local sports scene.

Where can you play padel in Phnom Penh?

Today, Khmer Padel is the main venue for this sport in Phnom Penh. Located on boulevard Preah Norodom, it offers a high-quality infrastructure well served by urban transport. The courts can be booked easily online, at affordable rates ranging from 20 to 24 dollars an hour depending on the schedule, and rackets and balls can be hired on site. Beginners can also benefit from coaching from the experienced team led by Linh Lu, head coach.

Other one-off or private initiatives are beginning to emerge, but it's at Khmer Padel that the majority of players now come together, consolidating the growth of the sport in Cambodia. With the support of local organisations, regional clubs and international players, Phnom Penh could soon become a major padel centre in South-East Asia.

Why is padel so popular?

Padel is renowned for its accessibility: the smaller court requires less movement than tennis, and the ability to use the walls to bounce the ball makes the game more strategic and dynamic. This friendly sport, often played in doubles, is ideal for socialising while staying active.

These characteristics explain its worldwide success and its rapid popularisation in Phnom Penh, where the young population is constantly on the lookout for innovative and stimulating activities.

In short, Phnom Penh is joining this global trend with the arrival of Khmer Padel, ushering in a new sporting era in the capital. The growing popularity of this sport offers residents an exciting sporting alternative and promises to contribute to the enrichment of local community life.

For more information or to book a court, visit the official website www.khmerpadel.com or the Khmerpadel Facebook page, or contact the Telegram hotline on +855 (0)15 995 750.

A new event: the inter-chamber padel tournament

As part of the rapid development of padel in Phnom Penh, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cambodia (CCIFC) is organising the first Inter-Chamber Padel Tournament. This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with several international chambers of commerce present in Cambodia: the International Business Chamber Cambodia (IBC), EuroCham Cambodia, ItaCham (Italian Business Chamber Cambodia), German Business Cambodia (GBC), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (CanCham) and Benelux Cambodia.

The event will be held on the morning of Saturday 4 October 2025 at the flagship Khmer Padel club on Rue 51 (Pasteur) in Phnom Penh. Participation is set at $15 per player. In order to optimise team preparation, Khmer Padel is offering three free training sessions in the weeks leading up to the tournament. These sessions are personalised and organised in small groups of four players, an exclusive offer reserved for the first 12 registrants.

Registration for the training sessions is already open via an online link, encouraging teams to register quickly to take advantage of this opportunity. The tournament also marks the official launch of an Inter-Chamber Padel League, which aims to organise regular meetings throughout the year to strengthen links between the various international business communities active in Cambodia.

The CCIFC would like to thank its Gold sponsor, Decathlon Cambodia, for its support of this event, which promises to become a not-to-be-missed sporting and social event for expatriate and local business people alike.

To register for the tournament or the Inter-Chamber Padel League, and for any further information, just follow the dedicated links published by the CCIFC and Khmer Padel.