Montjane plays at Wimbledon

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has heaped praise on a local wheelchair tennis star, Kgothatso Montjane for her heroics at the recent Wimbledon Tennis tournament when she became the first wheelchair tennis player from the province to make it to the semi-finals. She eventually lost 1-6, 5-7 to top seed and defending champion Diede de Groot of the Netherlands.
Spokesperson for the department, Kola Maila, said: “The department and the province in particular are very proud of the monumental achievement by one of our own, Kgothatso Montjane. Her heroic display in the recent international wheelchair tourney in Wimbledon proves that hard work, focus and determination pay dividends. Having defied all odds and transcended racial barriers to eventually be ranked in the top ten in the world, in the sport that is historically for the privileged, she showed that the province has indeed got talent.”
“We dip our banner in congratulating her and believe more is yet to come. As the first African wheelchair player to reach the semi-final, we in the province are delighted that it will serve to encourage other young people from the disadvantaged communities to emulate her,” Maila said.
Montjane returned to the country on Monday and reportedly thanked all her supporters. “The past few weeks have been hectic, but the experience was incredible with participation at the All England Lawn Tennis Club being a highlight. Thank you to everyone for the support,” she reportedly said.
Montjane was born in Seleteng village, Ga-Mphahlele and is currently placed in the top 10 of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
She was named South Africa’s Disabled Sportswoman of the Year, in 2005, 2011 and 2015. She holds 29 singles titles and has won tournaments such as the wheelchair Belgian Open and Swiss Open. She is also successful in doubles, where she won the Belgian Open in 2015 together with Jordanne Whiley. In 2013 and 2014, she participated in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, Australian Open, Roland Garros and US Open, where she was able to reach the quarter and semi-finals in the singles and the final in all of the doubles tournaments.
She was a member of the South African team at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympics, but was not able to secure a medal. Besides being a Paralympian, she was a 2009 and 2011 World Team Cup participant for South Africa.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
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