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Damilare Okunola
US-based Nigerian wheelchair tennis star, Alex Adewale has lamented the continuous omission of wheelchair tennis from major sporting activities in the country.
The winner of the inaugural men’s singles event for wheelchair tennis players at this year’s Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Open, blamed the sports ministry for the slump in the disabled sport.
“I don’t just understand how sport is being run in this country. If truly we have a sports ministry, then they have not done enough for wheelchair tennis in anyway.
“Or how do you explain the fact that a sport which has been to the Paralympic Games on two successive occasions is yet to feature in our National Sports Festival?
“How then are they expecting us to grow in the game? We are always discouraged with the way things are run here. Back in the US, there are many tournaments for wheelchair tennis players, I think we should learn from them” he stated in a chat with Naija Tennis Special.
Adewale, who is Nigeria’s highest placed player on the ATP rankings, further warned that if drastic steps are not taken, the country might lose her number one spot on the continent.
“We are the strongest playing country for the sport on the continent but our sports ministry is more concerned about football and athletics.
“If things continue like this, we shall lose the top spot to lesser countries who have taken their time to develop the sport in their country”.
Adewale became the first Nigerian wheelchair tennis player to play in the US Open early this year when he got to the second round of the Championship.