Blind tennis champion naqi rice lobbies for the conscience and the paralympic inclusion of sport
London – Naqi Rizvi loves the “absolute freedom” he feels on the tennis court.
Winning titles is also fun.
The 34 -year -old blind tennis champion is on a mission not only to raise awareness but also to raise sport in the Paralympic games.
“It would be the dream, and I would like to be the first Paralympic champion if I could,” said Rizvi.
The London resident, entirely blind of the age of 7 due to congenital glaucoma, has only taken the sport ten years ago and is now The listed male player n ° 1 in the world for its category.
Also a passionate runner, Rizvi finished two marathons and although jogging with a guide is great, tennis offers more.
“On a tennis court, I have absolute freedom because I know where the limits are, nobody needs to tell me what meaning to turn to me, I do not need to have a cane or anything like this,” he told the Associated Press during a session of practice at the National Tennis Center in the southwest of London.
“It's just the absolute feeling of the freedom to know that I can run comfortably, make my own decisions, then be able to play points or rally. It's just incredible.”
The rules are fundamentally the same as fairly public tennis with smaller dimensions and a slightly lower net. Tactile lines are recorded on the field so that players like Ricevi can feel the limits. Depending on the level of visual impairment, you are authorized up to three rebounds of the ball. The foam ball contains a bell so that players can follow it audible.
“What I find interesting about blind tennis is that it is incredibly technical,” said Rizvi, who also has a great service.
The aspect of solving sports problem is something that Rizvi likes – not a surprise since he studied engineering at the University College in London.
“You really have to anticipate after hearing the first rebound where the second and third will be located,” he said. “You obviously cannot see how your opponent hit the ball, so it's a lot of anticipation and a lot of practice and getting used to different trajectories that the ball can take.
Ricevi did not even know that tennis was an option until his visit Metro Blind Sport in London ten years ago. He was immediately hung.
“I can almost assure you that if you were investigating blind and partially permanent people,” he said, “the majority of them would have no idea because it is not televised, it is not in other traditional events, so how are people supposed to discover it?”
The Lawn Tennis Association supports a visually program which includes practice sessions at the National Tennis Center of the Manager. This is where Jack Draper, player n ° 5 in the world, has tried the different levels. The LTA also organizes tournaments each year and sends “Team GB” to an international competition.
Rizvi noted that there is not much financial support in sport. There is no price in tournaments and players often finance their own trip.
“Unless you obviously have visibility and money behind, it's really difficult,” he said. “The guiding bodies must play a more active role and try to give parity to all forms of disabled tennis, not only those that have made its torn -wheel drive tennis, for example.”
Ricevi, which is married and Works in financeOriginally represented his native Pakistan, but since last year has been part of the English program since he obtained British citizenship. He discussed his childhood – his father is Pakistani and his mother is Indian – A TEDX speech that he gave As a student at UCL.
Invented in Japan by Takei Miyoshi In 1984, Blind Tennis was played worldwide. Last year, the world championships in Italy were the most important to date with 117 players from 20 countries, said International Blind Tennis Association.
Rizvi won several national titles, a European championship, the world championship in 2023 – as well as gold that year at the ISBA world matches. He is also the double title champion of Play your way to Wimbledon tournament.
The international manual of the Paralympic Committee states that sport or discipline must be “widely and regularly practiced” in at least 32 countries and three continents.
“I really want it to be in the Paralympic Games,” said Rizvi, “but I also want it to be a general public sport that can be part of the ATP tour, which is part of Grand Chelem tournamentsJust like wheelchair tennis has made incredible jumps forward. I would love blind tennis is there too because it definitely has the potential.
“There are countries, continents, people, passion behind it.”
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More tennis AP: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
