Australian padel on the world stage: Junior Crocs make international debut as Aussie Crocs take on World Cup

Australia's next generation of padel players have reached a historic milestone, with the Junior Crocs representing the country internationally for the first time at the FIP Junior Asia Padel Cup 2026 in Jakarta.

Featuring both boys’ and girls’ teams, the squad marks a significant milestone for Australian padel, showcasing the sport's growth from grassroots participation through to the emerging elite pathway.

The tournament provides Australia's top junior players with an opportunity to gain valuable international experience against emerging talent from across the region and represent their country on the world stage.

“My teammates and I are incredibly excited and proud to have the opportunity to represent Australia for the first time at the Junior Asia Padel Cup in Jakarta. We can't wait to get out there, compete and represent our country,” said Junior Croc Theodore Wood.

“It's an honour to lead Australia's first junior girls' padel team onto the international stage and help shape the future of Australian padel,” added Junior Crocs Girls Coach Tim Lanyon. The historic junior campaign comes as Australian padel continues to make its mark internationally, with the Aussie Crocs wrapping up their campaign at the FIP World Cup in Qatar today.

Just the second Australian team to contest the event, and the first since 2018, the Aussie Crocs faced a challenging group stage against some of the world's leading padel nations, going down 0-3 in ties against Argentina, France and the Netherlands.

"I’m particularly proud of the way the boys came together and competed for each other. There were plenty of challenges along the way, both on and off the court, but the group remained committed to the goal," said Aussie Crocs Captain Marious Zelba.

"As captain, seeing everyone represent Australia with pride and fight for the team was something special. Qualifying for the World Cup was a huge achievement, and I think it’s important to recognise what this group has accomplished." 

The Aussie Crocs Captain also shared some words of wisdom with his junior counterparts. 

"You are the future of Australian padel. Represent the country with pride, compete with courage, work hard for each other and never stop striving to become better," he said. 

With more than 100 nations represented within the International Padel Federation, Australia's growing involvement in international competition reflects the exciting potential of padel at home.

Junior Crocs (boys) team

14/U

Noah Caussin Nguyen
Oliver Field
Miles Field

16/U

Archie Alberts
Bastian Bierenbroodspot
Finlay Ferguson
Oscar Whelan

18/U

David Lievano Monje
Theodore Wood

Junior Crocs (girls) team

14/U

Emily Hooper
Regian Martin
Lulu Martin
Frankie Smith

16/U

Evelyn Ferguson
Ava Garner
Hope Johns

18/U

Onyx Raven
Cameron Collins

The FIP Junior Asia Padel Cup takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia from 7 – 14 November 2026. For more information on draws and results, visit: FIP Junior Asia Padel Cup 2026