BNP Paribas World Team Cup African Qualification: Organization Is Best So Far – ITF Rep

Henry Larbi, the ITF representative at the ongoing BNP Paribas World Team Cup African Qualification has spoken glowingly about the organization of the event.

The ITF Wheelchair Tennis Committee member who spoke with Nigeria Tennis Live in Abuja, venue of the five-day event, noted that he will not be surprised if Nigeria gets the hosting rights if they bid for subsequent events.

Larbi, a board member of the National Paralympic Committee in Ghana, explained that he is excited by the number of countries participating in this year’s event, noting specifically that it gives a fair representation of the African teams in the qualifying event.

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“Personally, it’s enticing and a motivation. We have ten countries and that’s making us like 16 participating teams; nine men and seven women teams.

“The numbers have increased because South Africa dropped from the World Group,, but then, it gives it a fair representation of the African teams.

“2024 is also a Paralympics year and this is a tournament that gives rankings and I’m sure that our players will get enough points to push them further in the Paralympics.

“Africa now has three slots at the Paralympics, two for the winners of the Paralympics in Ghana last year and Kgothatso who is in top 20 of the world rankings.

“I’m very excited about this. The players, captains and coaches are very excited,” he said.

Speaking on plans to further develop wheelchair tennis in Africa, the man who started wheelchair tennis in Ghana in 2013, explained that: “We organized a national association meeting and we’ve all agreed that there has to be a structure with wheelchair tennis.

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“At the Australian Open, had just two Africans, so, we’re working on getting more Africans up there”.

On what he thinks about the organization of the tournament, Larbi outrightly lauded the organizers for making it the best.

“Organization is the best so far because of the involvement of the Sports Ministry, the contributions of the NTF and the staff of the tennis federation here.

“The provision of facilities is also superb, I agree with the ITF’s decision to bring the hosting here for the second consecutive year.

“And I won’t be surprised if Nigeria gets the hosting rights for this tournament for a third consecutive year if they bid to host it by next year,” the Chef de Mission of Team Ghana to Paralympics in Paris 2024 told Nigeria Tennis Live.

The BNP Paribas World Team Cup African Qualification event will produce two countries that will represent Africa at the main World Team Cup event in May, 2024, in Turkey.