Wheelchair tennis players in full swing while waiting for draw at Beijing Paralympics

Source: CRI | 09-06-2008 09:29

With just days ahead of the 2008 Beijing Paralympics wheelchair tennis event, the players have been primed for the battle of the six gold medals up for grabs.

The six wheelchair tennis events, beginning on Sept. 8 to 15, include men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, and quad singles and doubles.

The draw will be revealed on Saturday as athletes from 34 different countries and regions are waiting for their fate.

"It's nice to have made it to the Paralympics but just sort of making it here isn't sort of the end of the line," said Canadian quad singles player Sarah Hunter on Friday.

"I have loftier expectations. It's fantastic to have gotten this far, but I'd like to take it the next step now.

"I want to score a medal. But it all comes down to the draw and nobody knows what that is yet," added Hunter, who was stopped in the second round at Athens.

Athens Paralympic Games bronze medallist Karin Suter from Switzerland is also ready for the new challenge.

"The medal last time was in doubles and this time, I don't play doubles, just singles. It's even more difficult, but I'll try my best," Suter said.

"I just want to play my best tennis. I hope I will have a good draw, that's also important and if it's possible to win the match, I want to win it."

The Swiss has already managed to fit in some sight-seeing since her arrival in China, with a visit to the Great Wall.

"I think the Paralympic Games are the biggest thing for someone who is in sport and, here in Beijing, it's very special as well, I've never been to China."

While some veterans aim high at the Games, Israeli Ilanit Fridman was pleased with her Paralympic debut and her trip to China.

"For now, it seems like it's going well, I'm pretty satisfied," she said.

"Amazing, it's incredible to be here, I'm very excited. It has meant the world to me in the past three or four years. I hope this week and a half will go well for me. I will probably be very happy if I continue going through the rounds, playing tennis and just enjoying it very much."

The game featured as an exhibition sport at the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games and became an official event at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games. Quadriplegics were able to participate in singles and doubles competitions for the first time at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

Editor:Zhang Yue