GB win seven medals at 2019 INAS World Global Games

Taking place every four years, the INAS Global Games are the world’s biggest sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment, with almost 1,000 athletes across 47 countries competing for victory. Alongside tennis, other sports contested at the event include athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing, basketball, futsal and cycling.

Managed by the LTA, GB’s entry into the Games is enabled through strong collaboration between ourselves and the UK Sports Association (UKSA), the official Great Britain member of INAS. The partnership enables talented players to succeed at the highest level within INAS, allowing them to compete on an international stage.

Bettering 2015’s result of four medals, this year’s team are returning home with the following titles:

Women’s Singles:

• Gold - Anna McBride (Gedling, Nottinghamshire)

Men’s Singles:

• Gold - Dominic Iannotti (Ayrshire, Scotland)
• Silver -Fabrice Higgins(Chorley, Lancashire)
• 4th Place - Oliver Beadle (Upminster, Essex)

Men’s Doubles:

• Silver - Dominic Iannotti (Ayrshire, Scotland) and Fabrice Higgins (Chorley, Lancashire)

Mixed Doubles:

• Gold - Anna McBride (Gedling, Nottingham) and Dominic Iannotti (Ayrshire, Scotland)

Men’s Team Event:

• Gold - Dominic Iannotti (Ayrshire, Scotland) and Fabrice Higgins (Chorley, Lancashire)
• Silver - Oliver Beadle (Upminster, Essex) and Tom Mellor (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)

Men’s Consolation Final:

• Silver - Oliver Beadle (Upminster, Essex) and Tom Mellor (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)

Great Britain’s impressive result at the Games is yet more success for disability tennis this year. Reinforcing Great Britain’s status as one of the leading nations in the world for disability tennis, individuals and teams from across the LTA’s Wheelchair, Deaf, Visually Impaired and Learning Disability national squads have all won global medals and titles.

Who said what?

Speaking about the team’s success, LTA Disability Tennis Competitions Co-ordinator Claire McCulloch said:

“What a fantastic result for our players at the INAS World Global Games. Our players have achieved some incredible results over recent years, so we knew we stood a high chance of winning some medals but the team have exceeded all expectations! To win seven medals – including four golds – is absolutely amazing.

“Tennis can be a sport for anyone, and the LTA’s disability programme is one of the biggest across any sport with record numbers of disabled people currently playing across our network of venues. We hope the team’s success will help to inspire even 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 added:

“Wow, what a result for Great Britain. We knew we had a strong team and once again they have proven that with an incredible medal haul at the Games. Congratulations to each player and all the staff members - it’s a huge achievement and they are certainly setting the bar high for future events. Congratulations are also due to the LTA on the success of the team - it’s a pleasure to work together to enable these talented players to succeed at the highest levels within INAS.”