The Ghana Wheelchair Tennis Federation (GWTF), in partnership with the Ghana Tennis Federation, has held a one-day National Wheelchair Tennis Juniors Training to groom professional and beginner wheelchair tennis players. With support from the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the programme was aimed at scouting new talent and selecting players to represent Ghana at an upcoming international wheelchair tennis tournament in South Africa this October.
Over 60 para-athletes from Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Tamale, and Kumasi participated in the event, making it one of the most well-attended training sessions in recent years. Coach Yahya Macauley, speaking to GNA Sports, described the turnout as impressive and a promising sign for the future of wheelchair tennis in Ghana. He noted that many of the athletes were as young as six years old, adding, “In five years, we could have top-ranked wheelchair tennis stars from Ghana competing on the world stage.”
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The event also introduced adaptive tennis, a new sport designed to broaden opportunities for persons with disabilities. Coach Yahya commended regional coaches for their dedication to identifying and preparing players for the programme and called on both the government and NGOs to provide further support to sustain the development of parasports.
Bridget Nartey, Ghana’s number one female wheelchair tennis player, praised the organisers, highlighting the excitement and joy expressed by children experiencing the sport for the first time. She encouraged more persons with disabilities to engage in parasports, saying, “There is still hope; encourage yourself to learn sports like wheelchair tennis, para-powerlifting, or para-badminton. It helps both personally and for the nation.”
