Dutch Paralympic tennis players attribute success to country´s support

Source: Xinhua | 09-15-2008 20:21

BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch wheelchair tennis players wrapped up two gold and three silver medals at the Beijing Olympics, and they said it is on the country's supportive efforts that all the credits should be registered.

The Dutch players took three of four berths in the women's singles before their 1-2 finish on Sunday while the women's doubles also saw them take the gold and silver medals after a thrilling final on Monday.

In the men's singles, the Dutch athletes also compiled three of four semifinalists with the second seed Robin Ammerlaan taking a silver after losing to Japan's top seed Shingo Kunieda in Monday's final.

Ammerlaan, two-time Paralympic gold medal winner at Athens (singles) and Sydney (doubles), said the Dutch players do well because they have a long history of tennis and the tennis federation is functioning well.

"We are pretty involved in our national tennis federation. That has meant that we've had pretty good body behind us," he said.

"I think it is also because tennis is the second biggest sport in the Netherlands. Even in small villages, there are at least two clubs. In the town where I lived, there are six to eight clubs. Tennis is a pretty big sport.