Wheelchair Tennis was created for individuals with lower body disabilities, and became popular in 1976. The sport was first introduced as a demonstration sport in the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea. It became on official sport at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Wheelchair Tennis uses the same size courts, balls, and rackets as able-bodied tennis, but the main difference is the ball can bounce twice and can even bounce out of the field of play. There are two categories: Men and Ladies with singles and doubles events in both.
Results from 2011 Parapan Am Games
Event Men’s singles
Gold Gustavo Fernandez Argentina
Silver Augustin Ledesma Argentina
Bronze Stephen Welch USA
Canada’s Joel Dembe finished in second round and Philippe Bedard finished in the first round.
Event Ladies singles
Gold Mackenzie Soldan USA
Silver Mary Kaiser USA
Bronze Angelica Bernal Colombia
Event Men’s doubles
Gold John Rydberg / Stephen Welch USA
Silver Gustavo Fernandez / Augustin Ledesma Argentina
Bronze Mauricio Pomme / Carlos Santos Brazil
Canada finished in the quarterfinals.
Event Ladies doubles
Gold Mary Kaiser / Mackenzie Soldan USA
Silver Angelica Bernal / Johanna Martinez Colombia
Bronze Francisca Mardones / Maria Antoineta Ortiz Chile
Click here for more results.
Venue for 2015
University of Toronto Scarborough Tennis Centre near 131 Old Kingston Road, Toronto, Ontario.
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