Bringing Padel to Life: Emily Kilner’s Experience Bridging Language, Culture, and Sport

Welcome and Introduction Minter Dial welcomes Emily Kilner to the Joy of Padel podcast. Discussion of their shared experiences at padel events across the UK and internationally. Emily Kilner's Professional Identity Emily describes herself as a sports commentator, presenter and host. Current focus: 80% padel, with additional work in football, hockey and tennis. Expresses gratitude for the opportunity to be paid to discuss sports. Language Acquisition and Spanish Fluency Emily's journey to fluency: studying Spanish at Durham University. Year abroad in Lima, Peru, working in a business environment. Post-graduation year in the Canary Islands cementing business Spanish skills. Natural ability to adopt accents and rhythms of native Spanish speakers. Hockey Career and National Representation Played for England Under-21 hockey team. Family connection: mother was a hockey player in New Zealand. Reflects on the honour of representing England and hearing the national anthem. Hockey community providing foundation for broadcasting career. Entry into Padel Commentary First exposure to padel at 2022 World Championship qualifiers in Derby. Initial work with Paddle Paper creating documentary content. Gradual growth alongside the sport's expansion in the UK. Recognition of opportunity in English-language padel commentary. BBC New Voice Award Achievement Won BBC New Voice award in 2025 from over 1,100 entrants. Last-minute application with padel commentary clips. Award recognition contributing to decision to pursue commentary full-time. Transition from corporate career to professional sports commentary. Athletic Translation to Padel Discussion of sports that translate well to padel: tennis, squash, football, hockey. Hockey players' advantages: hand-eye coordination, team dynamics, competitive nature. Examples of hockey players excelling in padel: Ellie Tate, Sophie Bray. Personal playing style: aggressive, favouring powerful smashes. Strategic Understanding of Padel Importance of understanding winners versus unforced errors. Strategic use of lobs to create positioning advantages. Building points through intelligent shot selection rather than power alone. Recognizing that highlight reels don't represent typical match play. Data and Analytics in Padel Reference to Vianney Dubois and Padel Intelligence platform. Professional statistics: lob percentages, average point lengths, assist tracking. Women's matches averaging 11 shots per point, men's 9.5 shots. Value of data in understanding professional strategy. Commentary Philosophy and Approach Three key elements: education, context, play-by-play description. Balancing accessibility for newcomers with depth for experienced viewers. Using voice modulation to convey emotion and excitement appropriately. Importance of honesty when describing poor shots or mistakes. Bilingual Commentary Advantage Ability to translate coach communications during changeovers. Understanding Spanish adds cultural nuance and context. Providing insights unavailable to English-only commentators. Enhanced connection with Spanish-speaking players and coaches. Padel as Spectator Sport Belief that padel is already a true spectator sport. Dubai tournament example: 8,000 attendance at finals. UK lacking major tournament experience to demonstrate spectator appeal. Encouragement for audiences to attend live professional events. Differences Between Men's and Women's Padel Men's game features more court-exit smashes due to power. Women's game characterized by longer rallies and strategic play. Both equally impressive for different technical and mental reasons. Women's padel more instructive for amateur players. Memorable Commentary Moments First interview with Federico Chingotto and Alejandro Galan. Language switching between English and Spanish mid-interview. Chingotto's humorous reactions during English portions. Building relationships with players over time. Future of Padel in Great Britain Describes future as exciting and potentially overwhelming. Emphasis on collaboration and unified direction within the sport. Anticipation of major tournaments coming to the UK. Commitment to encouraging participation and attendance. Connecting with Emily Kilner Instagram: @kilner_presents Website: emilykilnerpresenting.com