Padel players compete in Russia despite ongoing war in Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and since then, the war has caused horrific destruction and taken countless lives. Despite this, a group of padel players seem unaffected by the conflict as they compete in "Moscow 2024" this weekend – a tournament with a prize pool of 85,000 euros.

Earlier today, the Swedish padel site Padelfeber reported that a padel tournament is taking place in Russia this weekend, organized by the Russian Padel Federation.

José David Sánchez, Aris Patiniotis, Cristian Gutiérrez, Ignacio Piotto, Tito Allemandi, Lorena Vano, Carmen Castillón, and Alba Galán are some of the well-known players taking part in the event.

This is happening as the war in Ukraine continues, causing extreme suffering and a terrible loss of life. The Russian invasion, which started in February 2022, has led to massive human tragedies and forced millions to flee their homes. Despite the ongoing conflict and the many international sanctions against Russia, these players have still chosen to participate in the tournament.