 Photographer: Henk Abbink
Date: 15 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 04 Mar 2008 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 15 Dec 2006 |  Photographer: Ando Akira
Date: 16 May 2008 |  Photographer: Karl Davies
Date: 18 May 2006 | |
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| 23 Jun 2008 | |
| Vergeer and Kunieda head Paralympic entries |
Four-time gold medallist Esther Vergeer (NED) and Shingo Kunieda (JPN) head the entries for the wheelchair tennis event at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics on 8-15 September. The ITF today announced the full list of entries, with 34 countries represented among the 112 competitors contesting the men’s, women’s and quad events.
Twenty-six-year old Vergeer, unbeaten in singles since 2003, will bid for her third successive gold medal in singles and doubles, having won both titles at the Sydney and Athens Paralympics. Netherlands dominates the women’s entry, with Vergeer, Korie Homan, Jiske Griffioen and Sharon Walraven currently occupying the top four places on the world rankings. This means there is no place in the team for 1996 gold medallist Maike Smit, who also partnered Vergeer to her two doubles victories.
The strongest challenge to the Dutch will come from world No. 5 Florence Gravellier of France, and No. 6 Annick Sevenans of Belgium, with China’s Dong Fu-Li representing the best home hope of success.
There is also a strong Dutch entry in the men’ singles, with world No.2 Robin Ammerlaan defending his title alongside compatriots Maikel Scheffers and Ronald Vink. The title favourite is world No. 1 and ITF World Champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan, who will bid to add the singles gold medal to the doubles gold he won with compatriot Satoshi Saida in Athens.
Several other countries will be challenging for medals, with Stephane Houdet and Athens bronze medallist Michael Jeremiasz representing France, Martin Legner competing for Austria, and Stefan Olsson and Peter Wikstrom in action for Sweden following their shock victory at last week’s Invacare World Team Cup.
In the quad singles, being held for just the second time, Britain’s Peter Norfolk returns to defend his title against world No. 1 and Athens silver medallist David Wagner of USA. The Dutch will also be in contention following their World Team Cup victory, with their three-strong team led by world No. 5 Bas Van Erp, a bronze medallist in Athens. Wagner and compatriot Nicholas Taylor are reigning doubles champions.
The men’s singles features 64 competitors, while 32 women and 16 quad players will contest their respective singles events. The draws combine direct entries with wild cards allocated by the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Committee.
The doubles events will comprise players already contesting the singles, with a maximum of 32 men’s, 16 women’s and eight quad pairs. The actual pairings will be confirmed later this year.
Click on the PDF Links below for information on the Direct Entries and Wild Cards for the Tennis event at the 2008 Paralympic Games. Congratulations to all players who have qualified!
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