Youngsters gear up for new event at Youth Games (From Sutton Guardian)

Carew Manor School in Sutton gets tennis lessons ahead of London Youth Games

10:00am Monday 18th February 2013 in News By James Pepper

Sutton youngsters will be battling to compete in a new event at this year's youth games.

For the first time ever, the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games will host learning disability tennis as an official competition in 2013.

The event will see Sutton up against 15 other London boroughs represented at the learning disability tennis competition at Westway Sports Centre near Kensington on Tuesday 12 March.

Competitors of mild and severe learning disabilities from years seven to nine are eligible to take part.

Pupils at Carew manor School are being put through their paces in free weekly coaching sessions for young competitors funded by the Tennis Foundation ahead of the competition.

Paul Williams, Schools Tennis Manager, Tennis Foundation said: "We are delighted to be able to continue to develop our partnership with the London Youth Games Foundation and create new opportunities for disabled young people to be able to experience competitive tennis. The response from schools right across London highlights the momentum gained from the success of ParalympicsGB last summer and we wish all 16 teams the very best of luck."

Anthony Kendall, Chairman, London Youth Games said: "We have long been known as a mini Olympics among young Londoners, but it is now time we were also known as being a mini Paralympics too