GB Team for 2019 INAS World Global Games announced
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Five of Great Britain’s leading tennis players with a learning disability have been selected to compete on behalf of their country at the 2019 INAS World Global Games later this year.
Taking place from the 12 - 19 October in Brisbane, Australia, the INAS World Global Games, which occur once every four years, will see over 75 countries going for gold at the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Selection for the GB team is managed by the LTA, with the team’s entry enabled through strong collaboration between ourselves and the UK Sports Association (UKSA), the official Great Britain member of INAS. Earlier this year, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that it would be endorsing the tennis competitions at the INAS World Global Games for the very first time.
The following players have been selected to compete for their nation:
- Dominic Iannotti – Ayrshire, Scotland
- Fabrice Higgins – Chorley, Lancashire
- Thomas Mellor – Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Oliver Beadle- Upminster, Essex
- Anna McBride – Gedling, Nottingham
Iannotti, Higgins and Mellor all played at the last INAS World Global Games in 2015, where Great Britain walked away with four medals – including gold in the men’s team event. Since then, Great Britain has continued on a successful streak, with the GB team winning an astonishing 23 medals at the INAS World Championships in Paris in 2018.
Speaking of the team selection, LD National Coach Ross commented:
“Great Britain is one of the leading nations for disability tennis and our record at previous INAS World Championships and INAS World Global Games is proof of that. We’ve had some great success in the past few years and we’re excited to head out to Brisbane in October and continue our medal winning streak! I hope our team will inspire more people to pick up a racket and get involved with one of the many disability tennis sessions supported by the LTA across the UK.”
Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive of the UK Sports Association said:
"I am really excited to see what this team can do. Britain has consistently topped the table in tennis at Inas Championships and I have high hopes that this Team will do the same. The Global Games is the pinnacle of Inas high performance events and I am proud of the work between UKSA and the LTA enabling players to achieve their ambitions at this level. Good luck to each and every one of the players. I know it will be a tough event, but I am confident you will represent Great Britain well.”
Alongside tennis, other sports contested at the INAS World Global Games include athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing, basketball, futsal and cycling. Demonstration events are also included at every edition. These reflect the most popular sports of the host nation not already on the INAS programme.
Follow the action
The INAS World Global Games will begin on 12 October. For updates throughout the event, follow the LTA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. To find out more about the LTA’s work with disability tennis, visit the Play section of our website or get in touch here.
