Daijiworld Media Network- Margao
Margao, Feb 23: For two decades, wheelchair-user Vishant Nagvekar dreamt of playing tennis, inspired by the matches he watched on television. However, the lack of accessible courts and the sport’s high expenses kept his dream out of reach.
Having tried his hand at table tennis, basketball, badminton, athletics, and swimming, Vishant never imagined he would finally get a shot at tennis. But on Saturday, his long-cherished dream came true as he, along with nine other Goans, participated in the state’s first-ever wheelchair challenger tennis tournament organized by BPS Sports Club.
"It’s an exhilarating experience to finally play tennis," said Vishant, a Panaji-based official from the state forest department. "I have been trying to get others to play since 2005, but it just wasn’t possible until now."
The tournament was a part of the Baale BPS Open 2025, marking a milestone for para-athletes in Goa.
For the participants, tennis was a whole new ball game.
"None of us had ever played tennis before, but during our first training session, it felt surprisingly natural," said Vishant. "We had to adapt to the bounce and movement of the ball, but I believe we have the potential to compete at the national level."
Wheelchair tennis is one of the world’s fastest-growing para-sports and integrates seamlessly with the able-bodied version of the game. The court, racquet, and tennis balls remain unchanged, with the key differences being specially designed wheelchairs and the ‘two-bounce rule,’ which allows the ball to bounce twice before being returned.
In Goa, however, players used standard wheelchairs since the specialized sports wheelchairs, costing around Rs 5 lac, were beyond reach. The regular ones, priced at Rs 80,000, were the best available option.
Despite these challenges, the organizers ensured a seamless experience for the players.
"We were well taken care of, with transport arranged for our personal wheelchairs and all playing equipment provided," said Stany D’Souza, an architect from Margao, who made it to the final.
With an enthusiastic crowd cheering them on, the final match turned into a gripping contest between Stany/Gauresh Marathe and Niklesh Pednekar/Mahesh Pogadala. The match saw several momentum shifts before Niklesh and Mahesh held their nerve to clinch a 5-3 victory.
Even after the final ended, the players were reluctant to put down their racquets. Forming a semicircle, they continued rallying the ball among themselves, making the most of a rare opportunity.
"Tennis is an expensive sport, and this was our first chance to experience it. I hope this is just the beginning," said Moises Rodrigues, a Vasco-based municipal supervisor.
Participants believe that the Wheelchair Challenger Tennis Tournament will not only spread awareness but also help Goa achieve national-level success in para-sports, just as it has in athletics, swimming, and table tennis.
However, Moises pointed out a pressing challenge—lack of participation.
"Goa has a large number of persons with disabilities, but when we tried forming a cricket team, we couldn’t even find 13 players. Many families do not encourage disabled individuals to engage in sports. They don’t realize what they are missing," he said.
With Saturday’s tournament marking a turning point, Goa’s para-athletes now hope for more opportunities to play, compete, and make their mark on the national stage.