Wheelchair tennis launched in SA

WHEELCHAIR tennis, an increasingly popular sport for the disabled, was officially launched in South Africa last week. The launch was made possible through a partnership between Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), Wheelchair Tennis SA (WTSA) and SA Tennis Association (SATA), Disability Sports SA (DISSA) and the SA Sports Association for Physically Disabled (SASAPD). Acsa has committed R1,3m to the project over a two-year period. “This sponsorship forms part of a four-year WTSA development plan to prepare players for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, China. Acsa will enter into discussions with WTSA about being the main sponsor for the duration of preparations for the 2008 games," said Charmaine Lodewyk, group executive of communications and brand management at Acsa. With the sport now being officially recognised, South Africa will host back to back events in November 2005 in Pretoria and East London. (Darren Sandras)