Accra: The Ghana Wheelchair Tennis Federation (GWTF), in collaboration with the Ghana Tennis Federation, has successfully hosted a one-day National Wheelchair Tennis Juniors Training for both professional and beginner wheelchair tennis players.
According to Ghana News Agency, the training event, supported by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), was designed to identify new talent and select players for the GWTF team in preparation for an international competition set to take place later in October in South Africa. More than 60 para-athletes from Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Tamale, and Kumasi participated in this year's program.
Coach Yahya Macauley expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that attendance was significantly higher compared to previous years. He remarked, "Today's event shows that the future of wheelchair tennis in Ghana is bright; the athletes are very young, aged six and above." Coach Yahya is optimistic that within five years, Ghana will produce top-ranked wheelchair tennis stars globally.
The event also introduced a new sport called adaptive tennis. Coach Yahya extended his gratitude to the coaches and organizers for the successful event, acknowledging the efforts of coaches from various regions in selecting players. He also appealed for support from government and non-governmental organizations.
Bridget Nartey, Ghana's leading female wheelchair tennis player, commended the organizers for the competition. She highlighted the encouraging attendance and the joy among children playing the game for the first time. Nartey urged persons with disabilities to participate in sports, emphasizing the opportunities and hope sports can bring to their lives.
