Dutch wheelchair national team training at VLTC

Local tennis enthusiasts have the opportunity to watch professional Wheelchair Tennis practised for the first time in Malta this week.

The occasion is one of three international events which the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club (VLTC) is hosting as part of the festivities to mark their 30th anniversary.

The Holland Olympic Committee decided to send their tennis team to set up a training camp at the VLTC in preparation of the Athens Paralympics which are held immediately after the Olympic Games.

The team includes Robin Ammerlaan and Esther Vergeer, both ranked no.1 in the world in their respective categories.

Accompanying the eight-player squad is Aad Zwaan, the Dutch national Wheelchair Tennis coach, Steven Bannink, physio, and Ton Rietveld, team manager. The training camp comes to a close this weekend.

Another event at the VLTC is the Air Malta International tournament (16 and Under, Cat.3), held under the auspices of the European Tennis Association.

No fewer than 32 juniors from Italy, England, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Albania and Luxembourg have applied to take part.

The events are the boys' and girls' singles on a best-of-three set basis.

The tournament will be played at the VLTC between August 28 and September 4, the finals scheduled to be play on the Maltacom Centre Court.

The other event marking the anniversary celebrations will be the 25th International Air Traffic Controllers Association Autumn Games between September 3 and 9.

Thirty-five participants from Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Belgium and Portugal will be competing for the singles and doubles honours.