Tennis sessions launched at Bradford College

Students at Bradford College are being served up an ace new sporting option.

Thanks to a grant from the Tennis Foundation the college has added tennis to the list of extra-curricular sports it offers.

Every Tuesday and Thursday between 4.30pm and 6.30pm various forms of the game, including short tennis and wheelchair tennis, will be played at the college’s Trinity Green site.

The free sessions are open to learners from any course and are designed to encourage more young people to pick up a racket.

The principal of Bradford College, David Harwood, got into the swing of things at a launch event on Wednesday that was organised by Level 3 sports students.

Tennis coaches from LIV Tennis were also on hand to deliver taster sessions.

Sport tutor Farook Khan hopes the new sessions will prove to be a big hit.

He said: “It is great to be working with the Tennis Foundation and Lawn Tennis Association to introduce our students to tennis. It is often considered to be quite a middle class and exclusive sport so it is great to open it up to a wider demographic and show our students that it is something they can enjoy and get involved in.

“I want to get students playing socially initially but eventually it would be great to get some playing competitively too.

“The sports students who organised the launch were inspired to help increase participation in tennis after we took a trip to Loughborough University and watched the international wheelchair championships.

“The trip really helped open their eyes the various forms of the game and how they can be used to engage people who wouldn’t ordinarily be attracted to tennis.”