The UAE Padel Player on representing her country and the opportunities for Emirati women in sports 

Sport has always played a defining role in the life of UAE padel player Aisha Bahrozyan Alawadhi. Long before she discovered padel, she loved competing in team sports, constantly looking for ways to stay active. Today, as one of the UAE’s rising padel players and a member of the national team, that passion has evolved into a serious pursuit.  

“Growing up, sports were always the thing I loved most,” she explains. “At school, I played football, basketball and volleyball, and I was always trying to join every varsity team possible. I never wanted to be the kind of person who just went home after school. I always wanted to stay active and involved in something.” At seven years old, her parents enrolled her in lessons, unknowingly setting the foundation for what would become a lifelong connection to sport.

“That was really where my love for sport started,” she says. “I was young, but I remember how good movement made me feel. Tennis became more than just an activity. I started competing a little, but at that stage, academics had to come first, so I couldn’t fully commit to travelling and competing professionally.”

For several years, education became the priority. While studying in London, Alawadhi temporarily stepped away from competitive sport, but that passion never disappeared. When she moved back to Dubai after university in 2022, she was introduced to padel at a time when the sport was rapidly growing across the UAE. “The first time I played, it reminded me of playing tennis with my siblings as a child,” she says. “There was something nostalgic about it that immediately connected with me. That feeling made me fall in love with the sport very quickly.”

What began casually soon became more serious. As padel continued to boom across the region, Alawadhi found herself increasingly drawn not only to the game itself but also to the culture surrounding it. “I think what makes padel unique is that it combines competition with a strong social aspect,” she explains. “You need four people to play, so communication and teamwork become essential. You build very close relationships with the people you play with, especially once you start competing seriously.”

That sense of community, she says, has played a major role in the sport’s rapid success within the UAE. Unlike many traditional sports, padel naturally creates interaction between people from different backgrounds and age groups. “For Emiratis, it has also been a really interesting gateway to connect with the wider expat community,” she says. “The sport has brought together people who may not otherwise have crossed paths.”

Part of padel’s appeal also lies in its accessibility. The sport welcomes everyone from teenagers to retirees, creating a rare kind of inclusivity. “You see people of all ages playing,” she says. “There are junior tournaments, senior tournaments and beginner categories. Anyone can pick up a racket and learn. That’s what makes it so dynamic.”

Although she joined the sport later than many players, Alawadhi quickly became inspired by the UAE national team and the growing level of competition in the region. Watching Emirati players compete at international tournaments sparked a new ambition. “I remember seeing the national team compete during the World Cup hosted in Dubai and feeling inspired by it,” she says. “It made me want to push myself further and see whether I could reach that level too.”

Her competitive journey progressed gradually through tournament categories, each milestone motivating her to work harder and improve her ranking. As her training intensified, so did her ambitions. “Once I started training several times a week consistently, I realised I genuinely wanted to compete internationally and become part of the national team,” she says. “That became my focus.”

Since then, Alawadhi has represented the UAE in major tournaments, including the GCC Cup and the Asia Cup hosted in Qatar, experiences she describes as both exciting and emotionally significant. “Representing the UAE means everything to me,” she says. “Wearing the national flag on your shirt is completely different from competing individually. There’s more pressure because you’re representing something bigger than yourself, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.”

That responsibility, she explains, has also strengthened her mentally. “Playing for the national team teaches you resilience,” she says. “You learn how to manage pressure, self-doubt and expectations. It forces you to grow both mentally and emotionally.”

As women’s sport continues to expand across the UAE, Alawadhi believes the country has created meaningful opportunities for female athletes to succeed. “The UAE has been incredibly supportive of women in sport,” she says. “There are federations, tournaments and systems in place that allow women to grow regionally and internationally. It’s amazing to see how much support exists for female athletes here.”

Looking ahead, her focus remains firmly on improving her international ranking through global tournaments while continuing to push herself competitively. At the same time, she hopes more young women will feel encouraged to pursue sport seriously, regardless of the discipline. “My biggest advice is simply to try,” she says. “If there’s a sport you’re curious about, give it a chance and make time for the things you genuinely love. That’s something I’ve learned through experience.”