World number one wheelchair tennis athlete to inspire local tennis development

WORLD number one wheelchair tennis player Stephane Houdet arrives in Dar es Salaam on Monday for a one week motivational tour of Tanzania Tennis. 

The historical visit will see the 41 year old French international conduct training drills among both wheelchair and able bodied players at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club before meeting disabled students at the Kijitonyama Tennis Club.

According to Tanzania Tennis Association, preparations for a successful stay for Stephane and his entourage are in top gear. TTA Secretary General Inger Njau revealed that the high profile tennis visit will also include a quality interaction with doctors and patients at the CCBRT Orthopaedic Hospital.

Popular with his strong - 100mph serve that is only 10mph slower than the world’s leading able-bodied woman, the Frenchman is currently ranked 3rd in world singles ranking. His visit is expected to catalyze as  well as inspire the ongoing plans by Tanzania Tennis to integrate all development initiatives for both able bodied and disabled athletes. 

And thanks to a lucrative sponsorship by the Simba Cement Brand of Tanga Cement Company Limited, Houdet is expected to share an authentically inspiring tennis career adventure. The man rose from a fatal car accident to play on wheelchair, accumulating 23 international titles including a Bronze Medal in the recently concluded 2012 Paralympic Games while at the same time raising a strong family of four children.  

Inger said: “Everything regarding to this historical tour of Tanzania Tennis by Stephane is already confirmed and we highly appreciate the sponsorship from Tanga Cement Company. He will be here with his family and we are looking forward to his quality interaction with both able and disabled students as well as quality drills with players and coaches.”

Meanwhile, the association has organized a three month training camp for junior tennis athletes in anticipation for a strong Tanzania representation at forth coming regional championships.

The camp that started early this month and running twice a week under local coaches will see players prepare fruitfully to compete at the ITF / CAT 18 & Under tournament slated for next month in Mombasa, Kenya, as well as the East African Zonal event scheduled for Dar es Salaam in January 2013.

Inger Njau emphasized that players needed to play more tennis if they were to represent the country competitively at regional and continental level: “Our tennis at junior level is in good shape. However, we need to improve the physical aspects as well as stimulate competing grounds. They must learn how to win and bring pride to Tanzania.”