Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru
The Federation of Disability Sport Wales (FDSW) is a pan-disability National Governing Body of Sport Which aims to promote and develop quality sports opportunities
FIVE YOUNGSTERS HEAD TO BEIJING
As the Olympic action is now fully underway in Beijing, five youngsters from Wales will be looking forward to the prospect of travelling to the Chinese capital.
The British Council is sending two young competitors from Wales to the Beijing Paralympics in September as part of their Young Advocates Programme. Brecon’s Robert Davies is a talented table tennis player who has his sights set on London 2012:
Davies explains,
“The whole idea is to gain experience and to communicate with other young advocates from China and other nations. I’ve never been to China before so I’m pretty excited. I get to see the opening ceremony of the Paralympics and I’m hoping to see some of the table tennis too. I am hoping to compete at the London 2012 Paralympics so it will be useful to to get an idea of the sheer size and scale of the event before I compete myself.”
Davies was a keen rugby player but he seriously injured himself on the pitch. Now his attentions have turned to table tennis as well as wheelchair rugby. He is a member of the Disability Sport Wales Academy which is sponsored by Cardiff firm Ace Feet in Motion and has also received funding from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Sportsmatch Cymru programme which is managed by the Sports Council for Wales.
James Lusted will join Davies in Beijing. Lusted, from Rhos on Sea, is an enthusiastic sportsman and a civilian employee of the North Wales Police Authority, working at the police headquarters in Colwyn Bay. The 20-year-old was born with dwarfism
One of Wales’ brightest sporting hopes is also packing his bags for the long haul flight. Phil Cochrane, 14, of Newport has been selected by British Tennis to visit the Paralympic Games as part of its London 2012 programme.
Cochrane has an excellent track record, having performed to exceptionally high standards well above the expectations of his age group.
He recently won the Men’s Second Draw Singles at the Mercedes Open, an ITF 1 Series event on the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour.
A Chris Hallam protégé is also Beijing-bound. Dan Lucker (pictured here)– who is coached by the xx-times Paralympian – is a highly talented wheelchair racer and is a member of the Disability Sport Wales Athletics Academy. At 15-years of age, he recently took gold and silver at the IWAS Junior World Championships in New Jersey.
For more information, please contact Jane Williams on 029 2033 8274 or jane.williams@scw.org.uk
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