Communication, the lack of it, is a major handicap. But Shaik Jafreen is determined to let her tennis racket do all the talking. The 16-year-old is one of only two players from India to be selected to represent India in the second Open Youth Deaf Tennis Cup to be held in Hamburg (Germany) from May 28.
This Kurnool-born girl is expectedly keen to make optimum advantage of this “huge” opportunity, in which she is being sponsored by the GVK Foundation.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Sania Mirza had also come forward to ensure that Jafreen enjoys free training at her world-class SMTA in Murtuzaguda, thus ensuring that she hones her skills under the watchful eyes of some of the big players and coaches.
Watching pros helpsThe experience of watching 10-time Grand Slam winner Cara Black, working with WTA Tour consultant Christian Fillol and Hyderabad’s very own Mirza, Jafreen feels she is learning a lot.
“Just watching these reputed personalities lifts your confidence level. The training methods might vary, but there is so much to learn, and I am lucky that I am training at SMTA,” says the young talented player, who missed out on the 2012 London Paralympics due to a communication mismanagement by the officials concerned. However, she has the satisfaction of representing India in the 2013 Deaf Olympics.
The 2012 National Deaf Champion in singles and doubles hopes that the Hamburg trip later this month should see a turn-around in her career prospects. “My ultimate goal is to win a gold in the 2017 Deaf Olympics in Turkey,” she signs offbefore joining her training session.
