SA’s Wheelchair Tennis Champion Makes History
Johannesburg, South Africa. Kgothatso Montjane, a 26 year old women from Limpopo, South Africa has once again put SA in the record books, and made our nation proud. She is the first African Wheelchair Tennis player to qualify for the prestigious NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters and Invacare Doubles Masters which will be held from 7-11 November 2012 in Mechelen, Belgium and 14-18 November in the Netherlands.
The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters was initiated in 1994 to honour the top players. Today, it is the most coveted trophy on the NEC tour as only the top 8 men and women, and top 4 quads in the world are invited to participate in these esteemed events. These events have historically drawn significant media attention and public interest as the players not only play tennis of the highest caliber, but it is the best of the best competing in a round robin format.
Kgothatso Montjane, currently ranked world no 10th in the women’s open division, only started playing tennis when she was 20 years old. Within a space of 6 years she has only been introduced to the sport, but has truly mastered it. She has won an impressive 29 singles titles, played in two Paralympics to date, beaten no less than 4 of the top 10 players in the world, including World No 2, Anniek van Koort, and now has qualified for the most prestigious event on the Wheelchair Tennis Tour – both the Singles and Doubles Masters. This strong and tenacious athlete was voted SA Sports women of the year with a disability in 2010 and was runner up in the Gauteng Sports women of the year with a disability in the same year. At the recent SA Sports Awards KG was again on the short list for the Sports women of the year with a disability.
KG, as she is fondly called, recently achieved yet another first when the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) last week nominated her for the October IPC athlete of the month award together with 4 other athletes around the globe. This award is determined by public support and voting closes Friday 9 November 2012 at 12h00. Please VOTE and show your support for KG by going to www.paralympic.org. WTSA’s Director and Coach Holger Losch said: “We are extremely proud of KG and wish her all the best at the upcoming Masters events. KG is a talented young women who is not only committed, but shows constant dedication, and determination. Her hard work will pay off, and we believe she has only just started to achieve her potential.” Participation in local and international tournaments is made possible by a generous sponsorship from Airports Company South Africa, the official sponsor of the sport.
For more information, please contact Bianca Morkel Tel: 083 386 4002 Fax: 086 651 6664 Email: pr@tennis.co.za. Other resources worth a visit include: www.tennis.co.za; or join our Facebook page and group: Wheelchair Tennis SA and follow us on Twitter: @WCTennis.