The first ever international wheelchair tennis tournament organized by Sri Lanka Tennis Association with the Negombo Tennis Club and SSC commenced on February 9 in Negombo.
It has attracted three countries India, Malaysia and South Korea that will face stiff opposition from host country Sri Lanka.
The other two stages are set to be worked off from February 14 to 17 at SLTA courts and from 19 to 22 at the SSC courts. The tournament which is named as Futures Tournament will also give away the biggest prize money which runs up to 3000 US dollars which will be presented to the winners and runners up.
Korea’s wheelchair tennis stars who are ranked among the top 30 have come to participate at this world class tournament for the first time according to the President of the SLTA Iqbal Bin Issacs who addressed a media briefing in Colombo on Thursday.
He further said that conducting tournaments of this nature is sure to attract more towards the sport.
Meanwhile the island’s wheelchair tennis stars who have done well with limited facilities will get the opportunity of qualifying to play in the Asian wheelchair tennis tournaments. The ongoing Tournament is sponsored by Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) which has been sponsoring many of the tennis tourneys conducted in Sri Lanka by SLTA.
Three Sri Lankan medal winners at the Asian Para Games, former soldiers Ranaweera, Dharmasena and Gamini along with ten others are competing in this tournament.
They are coached by the experienced Jagath Welikala who is confident they will do well during this Championship posing a big challenge to foreign competitors.