Elham Asaad Buaras
Over 640 people took part in the largest Muslim community-led racket sports event in the Royal Masonic School in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, on July 6 and 7.
The ‘Festival of Rackets’ organised by Stanmore Jafffery’s Racket Sports with the help of 150 volunteers and 27 sponsors incorporated tournaments in tennis, badminton, table tennis and squash, all under one roof over one weekend.
Almost 3,000 people attended the Wimbledon themed event which included exhibition matches including one from the world number 3 blind tennis player Naqi Rizvi.
Abbas Merali, Chair of SJRS, told The Muslim News, “We are delighted to bring four generations of families together from across communities, including people with disabilities, all in the spirit of Rackethood.”
Sabrina Stocker, from BBC 1 Apprentice 2018 and CEO of Mytennisevents, was part of a star-studded panel including Chief Guest of Honour, Aasif Karim (former Davis Cup player and Cricket world cup semi-finalist), Heidi Leuser (Board Member of England Squash), amongst others giving advice to aspiring kids and parents alike on the ‘journey to excellence’ to becoming elite sports professionals.
The Chair of Three Rivers Council, Councillor Paula Hiscocks, opened the festival and was joined by Councillors Reena Ranger, Debbie Morris and Joanna Clemens. The Chair of Hertfordshire Badminton, Mike Newlove, presented the trophies at the closing ceremony.