Japan win padel's first Asian Games gold as three top seeds fall in Rotterdam

Japan take the first women's gold. Saki Tsukamoto and Kae Tokumoto beat Indonesia's Fadona Kusumawati and Fitriani Sabatini 6-3, 6-4 in the women's final at the Higashi Sports Centre on Saturday. Indonesia had led 4-1 in the second set before the Japanese pair won five games in a row to close it out. Indonesia still left with two medals, as Novela Putria and Beatrice Gumulya won the bronze match 6-0, 6-0 against Danna Abad and Joshea Malazarte of the Philippines in 40 minutes. Source: Sumbawanews (Indonesian)

Iran settle the men's bronze between themselves. Farsad Shahi and Amirmohammad Jamshidi beat compatriots Hami Golestani and Arya Roghani in straight sets for the first men's medal in the sport's Asian Games history. Both Iranian pairs had lost Friday's semi-finals, to Malaysia's Christian Didier Chin and Aidan Yunus and to Qatar's top seeds Mashari and Rashed Naif, who meet in the gold-medal match later on Saturday. The result was not available when we published. Source: Tehran Times

The FIP opens its 2027 calendar to independent promoters. The International Padel Federation is taking applications from private organisers who want to stage events on next year's CUPRA FIP Tour, FIP Promises and FIP Beyond circuits. Promoters in countries with an affiliated national federation must have that federation's approval first, and the FIP says it will not consider an application without it. Forms and requirements for each circuit are sent on request by email. Source: FIP

Three of the top four men's seeds are out in Rotterdam. Franco Stupaczuk and Jon Sanz beat second seeds Ale Galán and Fede Chingotto 6-4, 6-4 on Friday, Coki Nieto and Mike Yanguas took out Juan Lebrón and Leo Augsburger 7-6, 6-3, and Momo González and Lucas Campagnolo saved two match points before beating Paquito Navarro and Martín Di Nenno 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 in almost three hours. Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia were the only top-four pair to survive, from a set down against Libaak and Alfonso, and they meet González and Campagnolo in today's semi-finals while Stupaczuk and Sanz play Nieto and Yanguas. In the women's draw the top two seeds went through, and Triay and Brea face Sánchez and Ustero tonight. Source: FIP

An upset and an Italian derby in Perugia. At the FIP Gold in Perugia, Javi Ruiz and Jesús Moya beat seventh seeds Javi Garrido and Juani De Pascual 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 and now face third seeds Esbrí and Jofre. Top seeds Bergamini and Bautista and second seeds Alex Ruiz and Javi García are also in Saturday's quarter-finals. In the women's draw, Carolina Orsi faces compatriot Carlotta Casali in an Italian derby, and top seeds Virseda and Fassio dropped two games in their opener. Source: FIP

Junior tour events in four countries at once. The FIP Promises circuit for under-12 to under-18 players is running this weekend in Caldas da Rainha in Portugal, Paderborn in Germany, Centurion in South Africa and Beirut in Lebanon. Portugal and South Africa have full boys' and girls' draws in all four age groups, Paderborn has three boys' draws, and Beirut adds an under-12 girls' event. Source: FIP

HEAD builds a stable of teenagers. Padel Addict reports that the racket brand has signed a group of young Spanish players to sit alongside Arturo Coello and Paula Josemaría. They include Curro Cabeza, 18, the youngest Premier Padel winner after Gijón last year and now in the FIP top 50, Juan "Coquito" Zamora, also 18 and inside the top 100, and the 16-year-old junior world champion Martina Vera. Mar Munera, Ale Calvo, Claudia Ordóñez and Daniela Portilla complete the group. Contract terms were not disclosed. Source: Padel Addict (Spanish)

Swansea plans courts on the Mumbles seafront. The council has submitted its own planning application for three padel courts on the site of the old tennis courts beside Mumbles Road, following the completion of sea-defence works there. The scheme also includes a new pedestrian link between the road and the promenade, landscaping and the return of parking spaces lost during the coastal work. Councillor Andrew Stevens said the plan reflected what residents asked for in consultation. No operator, cost or opening date has been given. Source: Wales 247