Westlife Foodworld, which manages and owns McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India, has formed a strategic collaboration with the Indian Padel Academy (IPA by Game Park Pvt Ltd) to promote and develop the sport of padel in India.
Continuing McDonald’s international tradition of supporting sports and communities, from the Olympics to grassroots campaigns, the Westlife Foodworld program is a key milestone for McDonald’s India. It broadens the company’s mission beyond restaurants by working to contribute to community growth and inspire the next generation through sports.
Padel, one of the globe’s fastest-growing sports, has been gaining popularity in India due to its unique combination of energy, teamwork, and accessibility. McDonald’s India hopes that this relationship would help to grow and make this new sport more inclusive and accessible, thereby cementing its place in modern India’s evolving cultural fabric.
Akshay Jatia, Chief Executive Officer, Westlife Foodworld, said, “At McDonald’s India, we have always believed in the power of bringing people together, whether through food, community initiatives or shared experiences. Sport is a natural extension of that belief. In the same spirit that has connected communities across continents, McDonald’s India is now bringing that global ethos home, using sport as a platform to inspire, include, and uplift. Through our partnership with the Indian Padel Academy, which is one of India’s largest Padel academies, we hope to inspire young people to dream bigger, play stronger, grow together and someday make India proud at a global platform.”
The cooperation extends beyond the courts and restaurants. McDonald’s India and the Indian Padel Academy will collaborate to make padel facilities more accessible to youngsters, allowing them to learn from some of the world’s greatest coaches. The Academy’s mission is to encourage children to participate in a worldwide sport at a young age, fostering collaboration, discipline, and sportsmanship in them while also turning them into well-rounded individuals rather than just better players.
Nikhil Sachdev Co-founder & Head of Marketing, Brand Development, and Strategy – Padel Park India said, “India is ready for the next chapter in padel. This goes beyond the courts, focusing on global partnerships and world-class infrastructure. Our collaboration with McDonald’s India (W&S) is a major step forward. We are joining hands with leading international padel academies to build a strong and inclusive community. The goal is to bring the sport to more people, especially children. We aim to enroll students nationwide through school programmes, certified training, and city leagues, and hope to see future world-class padel players emerge from India.”
This relationship expands on McDonald’s long-standing support for sports by cultivating grassroots talent and community participation. McDonald’s India (West & South), which has always supported local causes and community activities, sees this as yet another significant step forward, reaffirming its role as a cultural and communal enabler that delivers dreams rather than meals.
