February 5th will signify a new chapter for Padel in India, with the launch of the World Padel League at the Nesco Center in Mumbai.
WPL – World Padel League will be played till February 8, with 32 of the best padel players from around the world appearing in India. They got broken down into four groups competing with each other — Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers, SG Pipers Cheetahs, Game Changers Lions and Vernost Jaguars — each with a full strength eight player team of five men, three women and a coach/captain.
All four teams feature a mix of top-tier talent at multiple positions and resumes that suggest that reflects a battle to be high-level competition.
1. Sohail Khan Ent. PanthersMale: Carlos Daniel Gutierrez (World No. 19), Javier Barahona (World No. 29), Javier Leal (World No. 31), Javier Garcia (World No. 33), Rama Valenzuela (World No. 77)Female: Marta Ortega (World No. 7), Sofia Araujo (World No. 8), Marina Guinart (World No. 22)
2. SG Pipers CheetahsMale: Francisco Guerrero (World No. 21), Juanlu Esbri (World No. 25), Enrique Goenaga (World No. 42), Teodoro Zapata (World No. 35), Pol Hernandez (World No. 65)Female: Claudia Fernandez (World No. 3), Beatriz Gonzalez (World No. 6), Julieta Bidahorria (World No. 35)
3. Game Changers LionsMale: Jon Sanz (World No. 9), Jairo Bautista (World No. 22), Gonzalo Rubio (World No. 38), Pablo Lijo (World No. 47), Daniel Santigosa (World No. 73)Female: Veronica Virseda (World No. 12), Aranzazu Osoro (World No. 18), Carla Mesa (World No. 32)
4. Vernost JaguarsMale: Alejandro Arroyo (World No. 18), Lucas Campagnolo (World No. 26), Maximiliano Sanchez (World No. 23), Aris Patiniotis (World No. 51), David Gala Sanchez (World No. 76)Female: Alejandra Salazar (World No. 15), Tamara Icardo (World No. 17), Maria Virginia Riera (World No. 19)
World Padel League to Open Up with a Thrilling Opener between Vernost Jaguars and Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers. The second game on day one will see SG Pipers Cheetahs face off against Game Changers Lions.
Sohail Khan Ent. was at the forefront and leading the charge. SG Pipers Cheetahs face Panthers in match one of the day and Vernost Jaguars play Game Changers Lions in match two. February 7: Game Changers Lions vs. Sohail Khan Ent. — end of the round-robin phase.
The first match will feature Panthers against SG Pipers Cheetahs while Vernost Jaguars will take on the SG Pipers Cheetahs in the later encounter. Finals will take place on February 8, with the top two from the overall points table meeting there.
The tournament will be played in a single round-robin (all-play-all) format in which all teams will face each other over the first three days of league play, and then the top two will go on to the finals. There will be a total of four sets in each match; two men’s doubles, one women’s doubles and one mixed doubles.
Points are scored tennis style (first point is 15, second point is 30, third point is 40, fourth point wins the game). If the score is 40:40 (the so called “deuce”), a ‘Golden Point’ will be used to determine the winner of the game.
The head-to-head record — based on the number of games won between the two teams — is used to separate teams level on points after group-stage play. Where three sides are tied on points then the order of the teams will be determined based on the percentage of games won. If the outcome remains deadlocked at the end of the final match, the winner will be decided by a Super Shootout.
The same doubles pair that played the fourth will continue in the Super Shootout This remain will be played first to 10 points, sudden-loss of life at 9-9.