McDonald’s India (West & South), under Westlife Foodworld, has announced a new partnership with the Indian Padel Academy (IPA by Game Park Pvt Ltd) to promote and grow the sport of padel across the country.

This collaboration marks a key milestone for Westlife Foodworld, the company that owns and operates McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India. It’s part of the brand’s broader commitment to go beyond restaurants, fostering community development and empowering young India through sport.

Building on McDonald’s global legacy of supporting sports from the Olympics to grassroots programmes this initiative brings that same spirit home, aligning with India’s fast-evolving sports culture.

Padel, a dynamic racquet sport that’s taking the world by storm, has been gaining fans in India for its exciting mix of energy, teamwork, and accessibility. Through this partnership, McDonald’s India aims to strengthen padel’s footprint in the country by improving infrastructure, training, and tournaments, making the sport more inclusive and within reach for all.

Akshay Jatia, Chief Executive Officer, Westlife Foodworld, shared, “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 initiative aims to go beyond courts and restaurants, focusing on creating opportunities for children to access quality padel facilities and learn from top coaches. The goal is to nurture not just strong athletes but well-rounded individuals who embody teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.

Nikhil Sachdev, Co-founder & Head of Marketing, Brand Development, and Strategy – Padel Park India, added, "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 partnership perfectly aligns with McDonald’s long-standing philosophy of supporting sports and community growth, extending it locally to nurture grassroots talent. For McDonald’s India (West & South), which continues to back local causes and social initiatives, this collaboration is another meaningful stride toward being not just a restaurant brand — but a catalyst for community and cultural growth.

About Westlife Foodworld:

Westlife Foodworld Limited (BSE: 505533) focuses on setting up and operating Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) in India through its subsidiary, Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. (HRPL). The company operates McDonald’s restaurants across West and South India under a master franchise agreement with McDonald’s Corporation USA.

About Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd:

HRPL owns and operates over 450 McDonald’s restaurants across 72 cities in India, serving more than 200 million customers annually. With formats like McCafé, Drive-Thrus, McDelivery, and dessert kiosks, HRPL continues to deliver on McDonald’s core values of Quality, Service, Cleanliness, and Value.

About Game Park Pvt. Ltd.:

Game Park Pvt. Ltd. develops and operates sports infrastructure across India, creating racquet-sport and multi-sport venues, leagues, and grassroots programmes in partnership with schools and brands to boost participation.

About Indian Padel Academy (IPA):

An initiative by Game Park Pvt. Ltd., the Indian Padel Academy is India’s largest structured padel academy, building a national pathway from grassroots to elite. It designs training programs, operates high-performance squads, certifies coaches, and hosts tournaments to make padel a year-round sport in India.