Main content

Courting success: A Journey to Paris 2024

Kgothatso Montjane talks about her life as a wheelchair tennis champion.

One of the highlights of the Paralympics is wheelchair tennis and one of its true champions is Kgothatso Montjane. KG, as she likes to be known, was born with amniotic band syndrome, a condition that prevents limbs from developing properly. It did not stop her from pursuing her dreams.

An inspiration to many, in 2021 KG became the first black South African to compete at Wimbledon. She tells the story of her life and career, the big successes and the challenges she faced.

The roots of wheelchair tennis go back to the 1970s. Brad Parks, who co-invented the game, describes initial negativity towards it with concern over damage to the courts.

Legendary wheelchair tennis players talk about their love for the game including Shingo Kunieda, regarded to be the best male player of all time, former champion Jordanne Whiley, and KG’s hero Esther Vergeer.

Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic committee gives his thoughts on why wheelchair tennis and the Paralympics are so special. An event that KG is very much looking forward to.

Presenter: Kgothatso Montjane
Producer: Martin Buchanan
A Play it By Ear production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service

(Photo: Kgothatso Montjane at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. Credit: Martin and Katie Buchanan)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 1 Sep 2024 21:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 29 Aug 2024 01:32GMT
  • Thu 29 Aug 2024 08:32GMT
  • Thu 29 Aug 2024 19:06GMT
  • Sat 31 Aug 2024 16:32GMT
  • Sat 31 Aug 2024 21:06GMT
  • Sun 1 Sep 2024 04:32GMT
  • Sun 1 Sep 2024 13:06GMT
  • Sun 1 Sep 2024 21:32GMT