{"id":81620,"date":"2017-11-13T10:09:06","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T09:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=81620"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:53","slug":"spaanse-taferelen-in-hollands-herfstweer-tijdens-dies-sport-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/11\/13\/spaanse-taferelen-in-hollands-herfstweer-tijdens-dies-sport-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish scenes in Dutch autumn weather during Dies Natalis Sports Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Participants with varying skill levels took part in the padel tournament organised as part of the Dies Natalis Sports Week. <\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Despite the very Dutch autumn weather, some thirty students convened at the outdoor courts of Victoria Tennis Club on Thursday to play padel, a racquet sport that is a little reminiscent of tennis and squash. It is incredibly popular in Latin America and Spain but still quite new and unknown in the Netherlands. In the end, the tournament had two female victors, as well as two female losers.<\/p>\n

Definitely something to do again<\/h3>

\u201cI had only played the game once before,\u201d says trainee flight attendant and loser of the game Eliana Mol, 20. Along with her doubles partner, Myl\u00e8ne Romeijn (21, Bachelor of Education), she lost every single one of her games. \u201cWe had never played together before, so we are not at all attuned to each other,\u201d is Romeijn\u2019s excuse. \u201cBut it\u2019s a fun sport, definitely something I\u2019d do again,\u201d Mol says in closing. The two students are offered a free lesson by way of consolation prize.<\/p>\n

The people taking part in the tournament play on courts surrounded by glass walls and equipped with lines, similar to those which can be found on tennis or squash courts. Pairs of two players challenge other pairs, with the winners being the pair that is the first to score ten points. It is easy to see which pairs have experience of the sport, competitions in which have only been held in the Netherlands for one year.<\/p>\n

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The winners, Susanne Docter (at the front) and Lisette Blankers, in action. <\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Speed<\/h3>

For the winners of this evening\u2019s tournament, former EUR Economics student Susanne Docter, 25, and medical student Lisette Blankers, 22, this clearly was not the first time they were on a padel court. \u201cWe played a fair number of games over the summer. I was introduced to the sport when I was living in Spain. Everyone plays padel over there,\u201d says Docter, who particularly loves the speed of the game.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\tWhat could be more fun than hitting the ball a lot and feeling like you\u2019ve mastered a sport the very first time you play it?\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to spend a lot of time doing other things, such as picking up balls, as you do with tennis,\u201d Docter goes on to say. Nevertheless the winning pair prefers tennis. \u201cWhen you\u2019re playing padel, you always feel like you\u2019re only playing a game, as opposed to a genuine sport. It\u2019s a fun thing to do on top of your own sport,\u201d Blankers says.<\/p>\n

Padel instructor Arwin Romeijn does not agree with that assessment. \u201cIt\u2019s a very dynamic sport with a lot of game-like aspects. In addition, it is easy to learn, so it can be played at any level,\u201d says Romeijn, trying to promote the sport. For his part, Pim van Zuilekom, the initiator of the tournament and founder of the club, adds, \u201cWhat could be more fun than hitting the ball a lot and feeling like you\u2019ve mastered a sport the very first time you play it? Even when you\u2019re playing an opponent whose skill level is different from yours, it doesn\u2019t make much of a difference. There will always be rallies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rain<\/h3>

\u201cAfter playing just fifteen minutes, you\u2019ll be wiping the sweat from your brow. Well, apart from today, obviously,\u201d says Romeijn, referring to the rain, which is somewhat ruining the tournament. \u201cPlaying with wet balls is far from ideal, because they tend to be less bouncy.\u201d Even so, the participants are clearly enjoying the game.<\/p>\n

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Eliana Mol (left) and Myl\u00e8ne Romeijn holding their consolation prize. <\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

EUR students who hold an Erasmus Sport ID card may use the club\u2019s padel courts free of charge, even in winter. \u201cThe courts are made of artificial grass, so they can be played year round,\u201d Van Zuilekom explains. Training sessions for beginners, which can be attended without participants having to sign up beforehand, are taught every Monday and Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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