The Ghana Tennis Federation (GTF) has congratulated wheelchair tennis players and officials for their commitment, sacrifice and participation in the Ga Mantse Tennis Tournament, highlighting the growing development of wheelchair tennis in Ghana.

The tournament featured competitive men’s and women’s wheelchair tennis divisions, providing athletes with an opportunity to showcase their skills, resilience and sportsmanship.

In the men’s division, Bernard Yawson emerged as champion, while Daniel Laryea finished as runner-up. In the women’s division, Stacy Konadu Mensah claimed the title, with Bridget Nartey finishing as runner-up.

The Federation commended all four finalists and every participating athlete for contributing to an exciting and competitive tournament.

Federation thanks tournament organisers

The GTF expressed its appreciation to the organisers, Abusua, for including wheelchair tennis in the Ga Mantse Tennis Tournament.

According to the Federation, initiatives of this nature are essential to the development of para-sport in Ghana, as they provide athletes with valuable competition, greater public visibility and opportunities to assess their progress.

The Federation also expressed hope that future editions of the tournament would be bigger and have an even greater impact on wheelchair tennis development.

Federation calls for sponsorship

Speaking on behalf of the Board, Henry K. N. Larbi, National Coordinator of Ghana Wheelchair Tennis, congratulated the players and officials on their dedication and commitment to the sport.

He stressed the importance of securing sponsorship to enable Ghanaian wheelchair tennis players to compete in international tournaments and improve their chances of qualifying for the LA2028 Paralympic Games.

Larbi noted that despite the talent and determination demonstrated by the athletes, limited financial resources remained a major obstacle to their participation in international competitions.

Road to the LA2028 Paralympic Games

Qualification for the Paralympic Games in wheelchair tennis depends significantly on international rankings, which players build through participation in recognised tournaments.

However, the costs of international travel, accommodation, tournament entry fees and specialised sports wheelchairs continue to pose challenges for Ghanaian athletes.

With the LA2028 Paralympic Games approaching, the Ghana Tennis Federation is appealing to corporate organisations, government agencies, development partners and individuals to support the country's wheelchair tennis players.

The Federation says sponsorship would help athletes participate in international competitions and earn ranking points, access quality sports wheelchairs and equipment, benefit from structured coaching and training programmes, and represent Ghana on the international stage.

Promoting inclusion through sport

Beyond competition, the Federation believes wheelchair tennis plays an important role in promoting inclusion, building confidence and changing public perceptions of persons with disabilities.

The Ghana Tennis Federation and Ghana Wheelchair Tennis have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the sport nationwide, identifying emerging talent and creating opportunities for athletes to compete at the highest level.

The Federation concluded by thanking its partners, stakeholders, families, coaches, officials and supporters for their continued contributions to wheelchair tennis and inclusive sport in Ghana.

It reiterated that sustained investment and collective support would be crucial to helping Ghanaian wheelchair tennis players pursue their Paralympic ambitions and achieve success on the global stage.