The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, has become since this Monday ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF)“as part of a long-term commitment to help the sport grow and inspire a new generation of athletes in Saudi Arabia.”
This is reported by the STF itself, which adds that “it will spend one season a year in Saudi Arabia to help promote and plan the development of boys and girls in this sport, as well as to increase interest in tennis among the country’s young population. “.
In addition to encouraging the growth of the sport in general, the STF has also put plans in place to develop a new ‘Rafa Nadal Academy’ that helps aspiring players become great players.
“Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth and progress, and I’m excited to be a part of it. I still play tennis because I love it. But beyond playing, I want to help the sport grow around the world, and in There is great potential in Saudi Arabia,” says Nadal in statements released by the Saudi federation.
“The kids here today are looking to the future and have a real passion for all sports. If I can help them pick up a racket or simply get fit and enjoy the benefits of a healthy life, I will be glad I made a difference.” , adds the Spanish on the STF website.
Currently, Saudi Arabia houses 177 tennis clubss, 146% more since 2019. In the last four years, the number of registered players has increased by 46%, to 2,300, and that of those under 14 years of age, by 100%: from 500 to 1,000, indicates the STF .
In the opinion of the president of the STF, Arij Almutabagani, “Rafa embodies all the values that we appreciate in a true champion on and off the court.”
“He is, simply, the ideal model to follow for our boys and girls. It is clear that Rafa lives the best version of himself every day. His dedication to training, his commitment to each shot and his way of fighting for each point are values that we hope to instill in our future stars. Not only to develop them as players, but also as people,” he says.
2024-01-15 19:56:47
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