Wheelchair Tennis rising stars set for 2018 School Games
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21 wheelchair tennis players have been selected to compete in Wheelchair Tennis at the 2018 School Games National Finals – a national multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes taking place at Loughborough University from 30 August to 2 September.
Wheelchair Tennis is fast becoming one of the core School Games sports; it is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world and integrates easily with non-disabled tennis, since it can be played on any regular tennis court, with no modifications to rackets or balls.
There will be six teams representing England, Scotland, Ulster and Wales at the 2018 School Games, all players aged 18 years or under at the commencement of the competition. There will be individual events for Boys Singles and Girls Singles with main draw and play-off matches taking place on Friday and Saturday, with medal matches on the final day. Boys and Girls Doubles will follow the same format as the tournament hopes to uncover the next Gordon Reid.
The selected athletes will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the event before going on to senior international success. Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Adam Gemili.
At the event, the UK’s brightest young athletes will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level, living in a dedicated Athletes’ Village on the Loughborough University campus, taking part in a School Games ceremony and performing in front of huge crowds of spectators.
“The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes,” says Ali Oliver, Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Sport Trust. “Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”
The 2018 School Games is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and Home Country Sports Councils and is delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.
