RCS rising star tennis promotes inclusivity and equality in cape town

Making progress in its quest to have a positive impact on local communities across South Africa, the RCS Rising Star Tennis programme will showcase its ongoing success when wheelchair tennis is revived in Cape Town next month.

Two special needs schools, Astra Special School and Tembaletu Special School, will compete at Bellville Tennis Club on 16 September 2023.

It will be the first time in nearly five years that schools wheelchair tennis will be played in Cape Town, helping to ensure that the popular RCS Rising Star Tennis series continues to promote inclusivity and accessibility.

The event will also be played alongside the RCS Rising Star Tennis district championships, which will bring together more than 30 able-bodied primary schools in the Cape Town Metro region, who will turn out over the same weekend at Evertsdal Sport Club and Stellenberg High School.

"This series of matches further emphasises the programme's commitment to creating opportunities for youth from diverse backgrounds," says Tennis South Africa (TSA) President Gavin Crookes.

"The inclusion of wheelchair tennis in the programme provides a platform for everyone to engage in the sport, fostering a sense of community and equality by providing equal opportunities for both able-bodied and individuals living with disabilities to participate and excel in tennis."

In its fourth year, the 2023 edition of the RCS Rising Star Tennis was launched with the first round of district events in April.

The campaign includes district and provincial tournaments across all nine provinces, with over 3 000 children from 722 schools taking part, of which over 40 per cent of participants are from previously disadvantaged communities.

The grassroots development programme is dedicated to increasing youth participation in tennis, while promoting a sense of unity and enthusiasm among schoolboys and schoolgirls.

Regan Adams, CEO of RCS also commented: “At RCS, we are thrilled to be a part of the inspirational work that Tennis South Africa is doing across the country and in Cape Town. We have always been a firm believer in the ability of sport to uplift and empower the youth of our country. We look forward to seeing the results of the upcoming matches, and the positive impact the tournament will have on the lives of our country’s talented youth.”

This season's RCS Rising Star Tennis national finals will be played between 27-29 October 2023 in Polokwane.