In the fast-evolving world of padel, where passion meets opportunity, Davy Sanh has emerged as the driving force driving the sport’s growth in Singapore. Born in France in 1986, Davy has always been immersed in the world of sports, especially tennis. His journey from tennis courts to padel arenas is one marked by ambition, perseverance, and a deep-seated love for racquet sports.
The Tennis Prodigy
Davy’s journey into the world of sports began at a young age. Growing up in France, he started playing tennis at an early age, competitively from the age of 10 and coming up alongside some of the most talented players born in his year—1986—Messers Nadal and Monfils to name just two. His dedication and skill were apparent early on, leading him to compete at Roland Garros, the dream venue for any aspiring tennis player. Achieving a Top 30 ranking in France, Davy demonstrated his prowess on the tennis court.
His talents later led him across the Atlantic, where he played college tennis in Texas. Yet, like many young athletes a career at the highest echelons of the international tennis circuit was not to be, so Sanh eventually transitioned into the corporate world, spending six years with KPMG, six years with SATS and another three years with Grab – the Uber of the south east Asia. Yet, despite his corporate success, Davy’s passion for sport never went away.
With a rich international heritage and outlook – parents from Cambodia and Vietnam with Chinese roots – Davy found a natural fit in Singapore, that most multicultural of hubs in Southeast Asia. Seeking a change from the corporate grind, he joined Grab, the “Uber of Southeast Asia,” while still nurturing his love for tennis on the side.
It was during this period that padel began to capture his interest. Influenced by his padel-playing brother, Davy found himself increasingly drawn to this exciting, fast-paced sport.
The Bali Padel Boom: A Turning Point
The real trigger for Davy’s shift from player to entrepreneur came from witnessing the padel boom in Bali. The vibrant padel scene there, marked by high-quality clubs and a buzzing atmosphere, was unlike anything in Singapore. “There was nothing like it here,” Davy recalls:
“ I couldn’t fly to Bali every other weekend just to play.” This realization sparked the idea for POP Padel.
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The Birth of POP Padel
Set to open at the end of 2024, POP Padel will be Singapore’s premier padel facility. Winning a public tender to develop on government property proved to be a stroke of luck for Sanh, especially since the tender emphasised the need for sporting facilities — a perfect match for Sanh’s plans. Being allowed to add a roof over the courts was another strategic move, and for those that have visited Singapore on their travels, will know that it’s an essential ingredient given Singapore’s year-round tropical climate.
Before launching POP Padel, Sanh took steps to cultivate a padel community in Singapore. He founded Padelistas, a platform designed to simplify playing the sport. Traditionally, players had to find three friends at a similar skill level to play. Padelistas removed this barrier by handling all the logistics—from booking courts to matching players based on skill level. This initiative quickly grew to 500 members, and spun into tournaments and fostering a vibrant padel community.
POP Padel: Facilities and Future Vision
Drawing lessons from the padel clubs in Bali, Sanh knows that a good vibe and top-notch facilities are crucial. POP Padel will feature courts from MejorSet, the supplier of Premier Padel, ensuring a top notch, high quality playing surface. But beyond the physical infrastructure, under Sanh’s leadership, POP Padel aims to create an experience — a place where the padel community in Singapore can thrive. In keeping with the relaxed but still premium clubs of Bali, POP will offer food and drink for its players to enjoy before or after a game.
Looking ahead, Sanh is also focused on the sport’s long-term growth. He is collaborating with industry colleagues to establish the Singapore Padel Federation, which he hopes will gain recognition by the International Padel Federation (FIP) soon enough. This strategic, forward-thinking move is intended to prepare Singapore for a national padel team and, of course, the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, should padel achieve get the nod as an Olympic sport in eight years’ time. Getting ready for the Olympics, POP will work with local school, introducing the sport to future players. Perhaps a today-13-year-old is picking up the racket for the first time at POP, just to fighting for the gold in Brisbane in eight years time.
A New Era for Padel in Singapore
As Sanh embarks on this exciting new venture, his journey from a tennis prodigy to a padel pioneer is testament to his passion and vision. To him, POP Padel is more than just a business; it’s about cultivating a sport, building a community, and creating a new chapter in Singapore’s famous sporting landscape.
Something tells me that Sanh is at the start of something big, very big, in sport-mad Singapore.
