Shankill Tennis Club in South Dublin is set to host the National Blind and Vision Impaired Tennis Championships this weekend, marking a significant event in Ireland’s adaptive sports calendar.

The tournament, organised by Tennis Ireland in collaboration with Vision Sports Ireland, will take place on Saturday, May 3rd, and Sunday, May 4th.

Saturday’s matches will feature B1 category players—athletes with no vision—while Sunday will see competitions for B2 to B4 categories, which encompass varying degrees of visual impairment.

Blind tennis, also known as visually impaired (VI) tennis, is adapted to accommodate players with different levels of vision. The sport utilises audible balls containing bells to aid in tracking, and players are allowed up to three bounces depending on their classification. Courts are modified with tactile lines and lower nets to enhance accessibility.

Irish international star Stuart Haxell pictured above was present at the Active Disability Awards Xcessible Awards this week.

Shankill Tennis Club has been a pioneer in promoting inclusive tennis in Ireland. Since introducing blind tennis in 2016, the club has hosted international events, including the Blind Tennis World Championships, and offers regular training sessions for visually impaired players.

The upcoming championships are expected to draw participants from across the country, showcasing the growth and talent within Ireland’s blind and vision-impaired tennis community.

 

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