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Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi lobbies for sport’s awareness and Paralympic inclusion

Article Summary

Naqi Rizvi, a 34-year-old blind tennis champion, is advocating for greater awareness and inclusion of blind tennis in the Paralympics. Fully blind since age 7 due to congenital glaucoma, Rizvi discovered the sport a decade ago and has since become the world’s top-ranked player in his category. He emphasizes the freedom and technical challenge the sport offers, while highlighting the lack of visibility and financial support for blind tennis. Rizvi’s ultimate goal is to see the sport recognized on a global stage, including the ATP Tour and Grand Slam tournaments.

What This Means for You

  • Increased Awareness: Learn about blind tennis and its unique adaptations, such as tactile court lines and audible foam balls, to better understand the sport’s inclusivity.
  • Support Accessibility: Advocate for greater visibility and funding for adaptive sports by engaging with organizations like Metro Blind Sport or the Lawn Tennis Association.
  • Inspiration for Action: Rizvi’s journey demonstrates the transformative power of sports for individuals with disabilities—consider supporting or volunteering in adaptive sports programs.
  • Future Outlook: With growing global participation, blind tennis could soon meet Paralympic inclusion criteria, but sustained advocacy and funding are critical.

Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi lobbies for sport’s awareness and Paralympic inclusion

LONDON — Naqi Rizvi loves the “absolute freedom” he feels on the tennis court.

Winning titles is fun, too.

The 34-year-old blind tennis champion is on a mission to not only raise awareness but also elevate the sport into the Paralympics.

“That would be the dream, and I’d love to be the first Paralympic champion if I can,” Rizvi said.

The London resident, fully blind from the age of 7 because of congenital glaucoma, only took up the sport a decade ago and is now the No. 1-ranked men’s player in the world for his category.

Also an avid runner, Rizvi has completed two marathons and although jogging with a guide is great, tennis offers more.

“On a tennis court, I have absolute freedom because I know where the boundaries are, no one needs to tell me which way to turn, I don’t need to have a cane or anything of this sort,” he told The Associated Press during a practice session at the National Tennis Center in southwest London.

“It’s just the absolute sense of freedom to know that I can run comfortably, make my own decisions, and then be able to play points or rallies. It’s just incredible.”

The rules are basically the same as mainstream tennis just with smaller dimensions and slightly lower net. Tactile lines are taped onto the court so players like Rizvi can feel the boundaries. Depending on the level of visual impairment, you are allowed up to three bounces of the ball. The foam ball contains a bell so players can audibly track it.

“What I find interesting about blind tennis is it’s incredibly technical,” said Rizvi, who also possesses a big serve.

The problem-solving aspect of the sport is something Rizvi enjoys — no surprise given that he studied engineering at University College London.

“You really need to anticipate after you’ve heard the first bounce where the second and third will be,” he said. “You obviously can’t see how your opponent has hit the ball, so it’s a lot of anticipation and a lot of practice and getting used to different trajectories that the ball can take.

Rizvi didn’t even know that tennis was an option until he visited Metro Blind Sport in London a decade ago. He was hooked right away.

“I can almost assure you that if you did a survey of blind and partially sighted people,” he said, “the majority of them wouldn’t have any idea because it’s not televised, it’s not in any other mainstream events, so how are people supposed to find out?”

The Lawn Tennis Association supports a visually impaired program that includes practice sessions at the governing body’s National Tennis Center. That’s where Jack Draper, the world No. 5 player, tried out the different levels. The LTA also runs tournaments each year and sends “Team GB” to an international competition.

Rizvi noted that there’s not much financial backing in the sport. There’s no prize money at tournaments and players often fund their own travel.

“Unless you obviously have the visibility and the money behind it, it’s really hard,” he said. “Governing bodies need to take a more active role and try and give parity to all forms of disability tennis not just the ones that have made it big like wheelchair tennis, for example.”

Rizvi, who is married and works in finance, originally represented his native Pakistan but for the past year has been part of England’s program since gaining British citizenship. He discussed his childhood — his father is Pakistani and his mother is Indian — in a TEDx Talk he gave as a student at UCL.

Invented in Japan by Takei Miyoshi in 1984, blind tennis is played around the world. Last year’s world championships in Italy were the largest to date with 117 players from 20 countries, the International Blind Tennis Association said.

Rizvi has won several national titles, a European championship, the world championship in 2023 — as well as gold that year at the ISBA World Games. He is also the two-time defending champion of the Play Your Way to Wimbledon tournament.

The International Paralympic Committee handbook spells out that the sport or discipline must be “widely and regularly practiced” in at least 32 countries and three continents.

“I really want it to be in the Paralympics,” Rizvi said, “but I also want this to be a mainstream sport which can be part of the ATP Tour, part of Grand Slam tournaments, just like wheelchair tennis has made such amazing leaps forward. I’d love for blind tennis to be there as well because it’s definitely got the potential.

“It’s got the countries, the continents, the people, the passion behind it.”

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More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis





People Also Ask About

  • What is blind tennis? Blind tennis is an adaptive form of tennis designed for visually impaired players, featuring tactile court lines and audible foam balls.
  • How does blind tennis work? Players rely on sound to track the ball, with rules allowing up to three bounces depending on the level of visual impairment.
  • Who invented blind tennis? The sport was invented in 1984 by Takei Miyoshi in Japan.
  • Is blind tennis in the Paralympics? Not yet, but advocates like Naqi Rizvi are pushing for its inclusion.
  • How can I support blind tennis? Engage with organizations like Metro Blind Sport or the Lawn Tennis Association to promote awareness and funding.

Expert Opinion

Naqi Rizvi’s advocacy for blind tennis highlights the transformative potential of adaptive sports in fostering independence and inclusivity. His efforts underscore the need for greater visibility and funding to ensure that all forms of disability sports receive equal recognition and support. As blind tennis continues to grow globally, its inclusion in the Paralympics could mark a significant milestone in the evolution of adaptive athletics.

Key Terms

  • Blind tennis rules and adaptations
  • Naqi Rizvi blind tennis champion
  • Paralympic inclusion for blind tennis
  • Adaptive sports for visually impaired
  • International Blind Tennis Association
  • Metro Blind Sport organization
  • Lawn Tennis Association visually impaired program



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