Grassroots Games 2016: Wheelchair Tennis
The Paralympics is under way in Brazil, and the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is focusing on the sports that you will see, hear or read about over the next two weeks.
With 22 different sporting events on show in Rio 2016, EFDS takes a look at grassroots participation back here in Britain.
Today it’s Wheelchair Tennis, with Ashley Davis telling us about building upper body strength and getting hooked.
I’m hooked on the game of wheelchair tennis!
My first tennis experience was in the summer of 2014. I came along to a wheelchair session at Newport Tennis Centre with my friend and I instantly loved it.
Tennis has made me a lot physically stronger.
I also love the element of competition. I’ve met a lot of new people and have also recently started coaching juniors which I really enjoy.
My coach Rhys is passionate about the game and is really encouraging.
I had been playing table tennis before but I decided to leave table tennis and take up tennis. I now play four times a week including a regular group session with Newport Knights on a Tuesday.
If you can find a good coach who can teach you the game it makes a world of difference.
Sometimes it’s hard to balance my time on court with my job and also justifying spending all that time on court to my wife can be tough!
I’ve run some fundraising events to pay for my chair but it’s totally worth it.
The Tennis Foundation are doing a really good job to make the sport more inclusive and accessible and they offer a lot to players so I would encourage anyone who is tempted to give it a go at your local venue.
