Issued by: Kaelo Worldwide Media

Sydwell Mathonsi, one of the South African Wheelchair Tennis players.

The wheelchair tennis matches in Beijing take place from Monday September 8th with the finals from September 13th to 15th. The series will include a special feature on our star players, who have been supported by Airports Company South Africa's (ACSA) Wheelchair Tennis Development Programme. Through a strategic partnership with Wheelchair Tennis South Africa, ACSA has provided the necessary funding to develop and grow the sport over several years. Local tournaments, training camps and coaching clinics are some of the elements that make up the programme which has placed both players on the road to success.

Montjane developed a deep passion for the sport by accident after one of her teachers introduced her to the sport during a training camp in Pretoria. “They knew that I love sport and when I got there I managed to play wheelchair tennis very well. It all started when I got a chance to be selected to go to junior camp in Holland,” says Montjane, who is currently ranked 42 in the world.

Mathosi in action.

For Mathonsi, being introduced to tennis was also one of the highlights of his life and as South Africa's number one men's player he has set himself some challenging goals for Beijing. “I want to set myself realistic goals. My ambition is to get to the quarter finals and from there I will take it one step at time to get to the finals,” says Mathonsi.

For both players, who are currently completing their studies at the University of Venda, the road to success has been paved with many long hours of practice and hard work. “My family is proud of me and what I am doing and they are very supportive,” says Montjane. “It is great to have support to live out this dream.”

Wheelchair Tennis appeared for the first time on the Paralympic Programme in Barcelona in 1992. It originated from the USA in the 1970s and continues to develop a strong following of players and fans internationally.

To learn more about South Africa's Beijing hopefuls watch Kaelo - Stories of Hope on Monday night, 8 September at 18h00, SABC 2.

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[5 Sep 2008 18:16]

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