A mystery building has sprung up by the main road on the left about 200m past the police station as you drive by leaving Sai Kung town towards Sha Kok Mei. It’s a good looking building, a rich blue in corrugated metal with just one sign clearly seen from the road, “Padel+”. What is it? A warehouse, a machinery shop; why the mystery? Why do they tease us so?
It is a tennis academy.
Here is some free advice for the marketing geniuses of Padel+: Put in big bright letters under Padel . . . Tennis Academy.
It is a relatively new kind of tennis, invented in South America fifty years ago, combining elements of squash. You play in a walled court, bouncing the ball off the walls. This makes for a fast-paced game.
It is all very woke. “Inclusivity and diversity are at the heart of everything we do, fostering a sense of belonging for all.”*
The investors behind Padel have spent a lot of money creating a brightly coloured, well-designed and engineered facility. The founder is Weston Yu. Not only does Weston need better marketing people, he needs better PR people. The biography on Padel’s website, although nearly 200 words, tells you absolutely nothing about him except blah blah blah.”Get ready to unleash your passion and be part of Weston’s dynamic vision as he continues to revolutionise the way we approach sports and inspire a new generation of athletes.”
The other director is Curtis Yu, who looks like he is Weston’s son. Sporting director is Sebastien Ortega and business development director Donald Chan. A one hour session with a coach will cost you $900. Four people and a coach the price drops to
$350 each.
Despite the lack of marketing and PR nous, Padel is an attractive addition to the Sai Kung sports scene.
*The PR dunce behind this drivel should be taken out and shot. No, that is a bit extreme. Twenty lashes would do it.
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