A WHEELCHAIR tennis player from Alresford has had para classification confirmed, so he can now aim for a Paralympic Games.

Andrew Penney, 18, spoke of the arduous process of being classified and his hopes for the future.

Andrew, who is ranked six in wheelchair tennis singles in Great Britain, said: “I am so relieved to be able to finally announce that I can continue to compete in wheelchair tennis, at an international level, and have the option, performance permitting, to make this my chosen career path. After three years of uncertainty, it is great to be able to say that I now have confirmed sport class status for wheelchair tennis by the ITF. 

“I would like to say a big thanks to my coaches, family and supporters who also believed this day would eventually come, and that it was just a matter of time as to when I would be successfully classified. 

“The past three years have been a huge strain on everyone close to me as we have had to prove that my disability meets the eligibility requirements. I hope that the regulations will be thoroughly reviewed going into 2025, to allow more people like me, who cannot walk, or stand on two feet, to play disability sport at an elite level. 

“The past five months have been the hardest of all, with the reality of what being unable to compete really means to me. I felt left in the abyss, being told many times that the process 'wouldn't take much longer'. 

“It is frustrating that I had to fly to Turkey solely to be classified, however with the official process having been so prolonged and starting to impact my ranking, it was necessary to take the earliest appointment available. 

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“I feel strongly that players who go through this understandably more complex process need greater transparency and, with the support of the player council, this will hopefully be provided by the ITF going forward. 

“Hopefully, the nightmare I have experienced will make the future process more robust and will support the IPC's mission to become more inclusive, allowing those with a wider range of disabilities to play at an elite level. I am also hoping that it provides a positive example for anyone else who may be struggling with their classification journey to never give up hope.

“I am now, finally, able to look forwards and put this rollercoaster behind me. What this process has taught me is just how tough some things in life can be which is not something that I want any other individual to have to go through. I want to be a strong advocate for classification and support others who would benefit for what I have learned through this process.

“The only barrier for me now is my performance. This process has further motivated me, and I am now ready for what is next to come.”