SA Sports Awards Winners head to Strand

With the support of Airports Company South Africa, the Western Cape will be treated to top-class wheelchair tennis at the Airports Company South Africa Strand Open. Recent SA Sports Awards winners, Lucas Sithole, KG Montjane and Thato Tsomole will all be participating in this event as their last tournament for 2013.

Around 64 players are expected to participate in the event, with the majority of players from regional programmes. The focus of this event, being an ITF 3 Series event, is to give as many players as possible the opportunity to gain world ranking points and experience, as well as allow top players like Lucas Sithole, Kgothatso ‘KG’ Montjane and Evans Maripa, the opportunity to display their talents and skill at home.

It is with the support of our game sponsor, Airports Company South Africa, that Wheelchair Tennis South Africa (WTSA) are able to host tournaments and provide players of all levels with valuable competitive experience in South Africa.

South Africa’s top four players in all the divisions; men, women and quads are set to offer exciting tennis. Paralympians Lucas Sithole, KG Montjane and Evans Maripa are sure favourites – not to take anything away from the winner of the Airports Company South Africa 2013 Soweto Open, Leon Els and defending champion, Rose van der Meer.  Other players to keep an eye out for are Mariska Venter, Bongani Dlamini and Frank Ramakoatsi.

The top ranked South African players that will be competing are:

MEN’s Division:                                                                            WOMEN’s Division:

Name and Surname         SA           World Rank                        Name and Surname         SA           World Rank

Evans Maripa                     1             15                                         KG Montjane                     1             6

Leon Els                              2             38                                         Mariska Venter                 2             32

Frank Ramakoatsi             3             75                                         Mabel Mankgele               3             37

Patrick Selepe                    4             86                                         Rose van der Meer           4             41

QUAD’s Division :                                                                                       

Name and Surname         SA           World Rank                       

Lucas Sithole                     1             2                                          

Bongani Dlamini               2             36                                        

David Mathebula              3             50

Steven Kekai                      4             58

Members of the public are encouraged to come and see these stars in action. Entry is free and all welcome.

Venue: Strand Tennis Club (Charles Morkel Stadium), Church Street, Strand - Cape Town

Time:     09h00-16h00 daily

Dates:   5-8 December 2013

For more information, please contact Siyabulela Nkachela (082 679 3772) or Bianca Morkel (083 386 4002) or fax 086 651 6664 or e-mail: [email protected]

Other resources worth a visit include: www.tennis.co.za; WTSA Facebook page: WheelchairTennisSA and/or follow us on Twitter: @WCTennis.

(File photo:Gallo Images)

- ECRSportswave - Bianca Morkel