SENATOR Pia Cayetano encouraged the youth to embrace sports and fitness as she promoted a game called padel, which combines the elements of tennis and squash that is sweeping the sporting scene.

Cayetano, a former national athlete and one of the most vocal advocates of health and active lifestyle through sports, is at the forefront of promoting padel.

“In almost every decade of my life, I’ve fallen in love with a sport. My latest passion is this new sport called padel,” the senator shared.

At the Play Padel Media Day, Cayetano was joined by fellow padel enthusiast and entrepreneur Nico Bolzico in an exhibition match against Play Padel coach Bryan Casao and champion pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, who tried playing the sport as a hobby while training in Europe.

“We have our own preferred sports, and there are different reasons why we do it. For some, it’s the social aspect. For others, it’s building discipline and excelling. Or it can be part of one’s shift to a healthier lifestyle,” Cayetano said.

“Padel is unique because it’s very beginner friendly. But if you want to be competitive, as I do, you can improve your skills with training and joining tournaments. More than just a sport, padel is a great way to socialize and meet new people,” she added.

“Like what I’ve done in the past, I love sharing my passion with others. Our padel school is called Padel in Action Academy,” the senator said.

Casao said padel is a great way to encourage the youth to embrace sports and fitness, especially these days when children and teens spend considerable time on their gadgets.