WHEELCHAIR TENNIS PARALYMPIC GAMES HOPEFULS ON A MISSION

South African former world number one junior Mariska Venter from Ermelo in Mpumalanga and the country’s number two ranked men’s player Leon Els from Potchefstroom are off to Russia on Thursday to continue their pursuit of Rio Paralympic qualification.

Only the top 34 men and top 22 women in the world rankings on 23 May will qualify for the 2016 Paralympic Games, scheduled for Rio de Janeiro in Brazil from 9 – 18 September 2016. Venter is currently ranked 30 in the women’s division and just eight spots away to qualifying. The 19-year-old will compete in two tournaments in Russia, including the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Level 2 Megafon Dreamcup from 30 April – 4 May and the Togliatti Open, an ITF level 3 tournament, from 6 – 9 May 2016.  “It is always a brilliant experience to play internationally,” said Venter, who plans to stage an aggressive game plan with hopes to make her Paralympic debut. …

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