We reflect on a landmark weekend for UK university sport as institutions from across the UK came together to compete in the inaugural BUCS Padel Championships.
The first-ever BUCS Padel Championships marked a significant milestone for university sport in the UK, as one of the world’s fastest-growing sports made its debut on the national student competition calendar.
Held on 9th and 10th May at Slazenger Padel Leeds North, the championships brought together 37 teams from 20 universities across England and Wales to compete for the inaugural BUCS titles.
The event was held on a probationary basis, meaning results did not contribute to BUCS points. However, the strong turnout and enthusiasm demonstrated the growing popularity of padel within higher education sport.
The Championships Format
Held under BUCS regulations and the official rules of the International Padel Federation, a total of 37 teams were accepted into the inaugural championships, including 28 men’s teams and 9 women’s teams.
The championships began with a busy opening day of group-stage action, with 58 matches played across the men’s and women’s competitions.
In the men’s event, 28 teams were divided into seven groups of four, with group winners and the best runner-up advancing to the knockout stages. The women’s competition featured two groups, with the top two teams from each progressing to the semi-finals.
Following an action-packed Saturday, the remaining teams returned on Sunday to contest 10 knockout matches and determine the inaugural BUCS champions.
The Results
Men’s Championships
It was a home success in the men’s competition as the University of Leeds pairing of Abdulla Alyasi and Luca Hodgson claimed the inaugural title.
Manchester Metropolitan University’s Aaron Robinson and Noah Johnson finished as runners-up, while Cardiff Metropolitan University (Owen Perry, Stuart Shannon and Will Sherlock) and the University of Surrey (Ethan Wharton and Marcus Thomas) shared the bronze medals.
University of Surrey
Women’s Championships
The women’s title went to the University of Birmingham, with Hannah Denly and Katie Kan becoming the first women’s BUCS padel champions.
Loughborough University’s Lola Mansfeldt and Suzie Hunt took silver, while the University of Leeds (Malena Torroja, Talia Dimson and Maya Naggar) and the University of Sheffield (Iliana Terry and Marina Beckinsale) secured bronze medals.
University of Sheffield
The Growth of Padel
Often described as a blend of tennis and squash, padel is played in doubles on an enclosed court where the walls remain in play. Its accessible and social format has helped drive its rapid growth, making it easy for beginners to pick up while still offering a fast-paced and technically demanding challenge for experienced players.
This growth has been reflected across the UK.
The BUCS event followed UK PADEL’s first Universities Championship in February 2025, as well as the National Universities Padel Tennis League, which has been running since late 2024.
The sport’s appeal has spread quickly to university campuses, with student clubs and recreational sessions emerging in response to growing demand. Several institutions have even invested in dedicated on-campus padel courts, making the sport more accessible than ever to students.
Did You Know? In 2022, Plymouth Marjon became the first university in the UK to install padel courts on campus.
Despite taking place without BUCS points on offer, the event attracted strong support from universities across the country and demonstrated the sport’s growing popularity among students.
With participation continuing to rise and the inaugural championships proving a success, padel appears well placed to become an established feature of the BUCS calendar in the years ahead.
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