The Tijuana chapter of Canirac (Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Restaurantes y Alimentos Condimentados), Mexico’s national restaurant industry chamber, will hold its first padel tennis tournament on Saturday, May 16. The event begins at 8 a.m. at Gran Pádel Río, located across from the CREA sports complex in Tijuana.
Daniel Betancourt, president of Canirac Tijuana’s Youth Commission, organized the tournament as a way to bring together restaurant owners, business operators, and the general public. Registration is open to anyone, not just those in the food industry, and spots are capped at 80 players.
Entry Fees, Categories, and Prizes
The tournament features men’s and women’s doubles in fourth, fifth, and sixth skill categories. Entry costs 900 pesos (roughly $45 USD) per player and includes a welcome kit. First-place finishers in each category take home 4,000 pesos (about $200 USD) in cash prizes.
Beyond the matches, organizers have planned food, drinks, live music, games, and raffles throughout the day. The event is designed as a full social gathering, not just a competition.
Padel’s Growing Presence in Tijuana
Padel, a racquet sport invented in Mexico in 1969, has seen a surge in popularity across the country over the past several years. According to tournament sponsor Ramón Agredano, the sport has been actively played in Tijuana for about three years. It gained widespread international recognition through Spain and Argentina before circling back to Mexican cities.
The Canirac Youth Commission described the tournament as a chance to build solidarity within Tijuana’s restaurant sector during what organizers called “challenging times” for the industry. Betancourt said the event functions as a platform for restaurateurs and the broader commercial sector to connect outside the stress of daily operations.
How to Register
Those interested in playing can sign up through the Canirac Tijuana Youth Commission’s social media accounts, by emailing jovenescaniractj@gmail.com, or in person at the Canirac Tijuana offices. Spectators are also welcome to attend.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte and San Diego Red.