The Việt Nam Tennis Federation gave wheelchairs to athletes with disabilities in HCM City to prepare for the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships. — Photo courtesy of VTF

HÀ NỘI — The National Wheelchair Tennis Championships takes place in Hà Nội on December 1.

Independent participants as well as players from units and member clubs of the Việt Nam Tennis Federation (VTF) will take part in the event.

Athletes will compete in four events, men's and women’s singles and men’s and women's doubles.

This is the first time the VTF has cooperated with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to organise the Vietnamese national wheelchair tennis event.

The tournament will apply the wheelchair tennis rules issued by the International Tennis Federation. The only difference between wheelchair tennis and regular tennis is that the ball can bounce off the court twice. The second bounce off the court is allowed outside the touch-line.

This event aims to create a useful playground, helping athletes with disabilities have the opportunity to gain experience, hone competitive skills and accumulate points.

In addition to trophies and bonuses, winners will have the opportunity to gain bonus points, including 60 points for the first place, 40 points for second place and 20 points for third place.

Following this event, the best athletes will also be selected to the national wheelchair tennis team to prepare for the ASEAN Para Games which will take place on June 3-9, 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Wheelchair tennis is widely played in many countries around the world. In addition to competing in Grand Slam tournaments, wheelchair tennis is also one of the sports competed at the summer Olympics for the disabled.

Wheelchair tennis is no longer a strange sport for Vietnamese athletes with disabilities. However, until now, most of the disabled athletes who are passionate about this sport only focus on small group activities.

With the spirit of social responsibility and the desire to create more opportunities to participate in sports activities and affirm the personal efforts of people with disabilities, the VTF with the support from the ITF gave 10 wheelchairs to athletes with disabilities in Thái Nguyên City and HCM City. VNS