HARJYOTI cHOUDHURY

We are delighted to invite you to the LITHUANIAN OPEN 2025, an international blind tennis tournament taking place from June 13-15, 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania. This is an ‘Open’ tournament and all blind tennis players interested in participating are invited. Tournament Details: Location: Vilnius, Lithuania (the exact event venue will be announced after the registration period ends and the approximate number of players in each category is determined) Date: June 13-15, 2025 Registration deadline: April 30, 2025 Entry Fee: €40 (to be paid by May 7th, 2025) Free of charge during the tournament: Water, fruits, snacks We welcome all blind tennis players to join us for this exciting event! Register now! Click the link below and fill out the registration form by April 30, 2025: https://registration.blindsport.lt/player We look forward to seeing you in Vilnius! For more information, please contact us.LITHUANIAN OPEN 2025 Organizing TeamEmail: Lithuanianopen@BlindSport.ltPhone / Whatsapp+37065022040

Following an internal review to ensure our organisation is set for success over the next 3 to 5 years, IBTA is now taking a closer look at its long-term strategy.The IBTA Executive Committee is conducting a strategic review to assess our organisation’s performance, goals, and plans. As part of this process, your input and participation is essential to help shape the future of our organisation.After collecting insights and engaging in consultation with our members and stakeholders, IBTA will present a strategic plan for adoption at the annual general meeting in December 2025. Please complete this survey by the 31st of March 2025. The strategic review survey is available here: https://www.internationalblindtennis.org/2025-strategic-review/

At the 2025 ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, blind tennis was showcased as an adaptive sport, highlighting its inclusivity and the skill of visually impaired athletes. A demonstration was organized in collaboration with BSTN, the Blind Tennis Foundation of the Netherlands. It featured top IBTA ranked players using adaptive equipment, audible foam balls to provide auditory cues and a smaller court to accommodate the sport’s unique dynamics. Players relied on their hearing and spatial awareness to track the ball and execute precise shots, showcasing remarkable agility and focus. Several children with blindness and low vision have tried blind tennis for the first time. The event drew significant media attention, with press coverage emphasizing the sport’s ability to break barriers and inspire. Major outlets highlighted the athletes’ determination and the growing popularity of blind tennis globally. The demonstration at the ABN AMRO Open was widely praised as a milestone in making tennis more accessible and inclusive in the Netherlands. For more information on how to get involved in the Netherlands, please contact BSTN President, Fanny van den Heuvel, at fannyvdheuvel@gmail.com.

Tennis for the blind and visually impaired is an adapted version of the popular sport, using special aids. Blind tennis, also known as sound tennis, is all about your hearing, orientation and feel. Whether you are young or old, no matter what level. Just for fun or for the fanatic, it is all possible. What is Blind Tennis? Blind tennis is one of the fastest-growing disability sports in the world. The ball in blind tennis is specially designed. It is slightly larger than an ordinary tennis ball and contains a rattle that makes a sound when it moves. This sound helps you locate the ball. You usually play on a smaller court, with a softer ball and a lower net, giving you enough time to react. Levels (Classification Categories) The sport accommodates players with different levels of vision. Players are graded according to their eyesight. B1 for completely blind, and B2, B3 and B4 for partially sighted. Rules of play are adapted to what you need. Depending on the category you play in, the ball is allowed to bounce 1 to 3 times. Where, for example, B1 and B2 are allowed up to 3 bounces. During the game, you meet other visually impaired people. It is not just a sport, but also a chance to share experiences, make friends and encourage each other. Blind and Visually Impaired Tennis in the Netherlands Blind and visually impaired tennis is an official sport and one of the fastest-growing disability sports in the world. It is currently already played in 27 countries worldwide. The IBTA (International Blind Tennis Association) is working to get the sport paralympic. Fanny van den Heuvel and Elise Dolmans want… Read More »Tennis for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Blind tennis was featured once again during the All Abilities Day at AO 2025. Participants of all ages celebrated the many ways to enjoy tennis and the Grand Slam event. Australian blind tennis players exhibited their skills and abilities in front of the public on Margaret Court Arena and Show Court 3. All Abilities Day is a day that showcases adaptive tennis for people with disabilities, including wheelchair tennis; blind and low vision tennis, and more.

Vilnius, Lithuania hosted a historic event from November 30 to December 1, 2024. The first-ever Lithuanian Blind Tennis Championship brought together the country’s most talented players and offered the public an opportunity to learn more about this rapidly growing adaptive sport. “Blind tennis is a sport that requires exceptional concentration, quick reactions, and intuition. We hope this championship will inspire more blind and visually impaired people in Lithuania to take an interest in this sport,” says Karolis Verbliugevičius, president of the “Blind Sport Lt” association in Lithuania. Blind and visually impaired tennis promotes active movement but also boosts self-confidence, improves orientation skills, and provides great joy – every successful return of the sound-emitting ball builds self-esteem and motivates further improvement.

Jagwe Muzafaru has established the first blind and visually impaired tennis program in Uganda. Athletes with vision impairment in the Kampala metropolitan area were invited to participate in introductory sessions in early December 2024. Blind Tennis practice sessions are conducted at Makerere University tennis courts every Sunday from 10:00am to 12:00pm. In his capacity as Country Representative, Jagwe’s goal is to grow Blind Tennis in Uganda and start expanding the adaptive sport to neighbouring countries in Eastern Africa.

November 28, 2024 On November 30 – December 1, Vilnius will host a historic event – the first-ever Lithuanian Blind Tennis Championship. This event will bring together the country’s most talented players and offer the public an opportunity to learn more about this rapidly growing sport. “Blind tennis is a sport that requires exceptional concentration, quick reactions, and intuition. We hope this championship will inspire more blind and visually impaired people in Lithuania to take an interest in this sport,” says Karolis Verbliugevičius, president of the “Blind Sport Lt” association. This sport not only promotes active movement but also boosts self-confidence, improves orientation skills, and provides great joy – every successful return of the sound-emitting ball builds self-esteem and motivates further improvement. Blind tennis can be played by both completely blind individuals and those with partial vision. The game uses a special sound-emitting ball, and the court, net height, and rules are adapted to the players’ level of vision. The origins of this sport date back to 1984 when Japanese student Miyoshi Takei created the sound-emitting ball and adapted tennis rules for the blind. Today, blind tennis is played in more than 24 countries worldwide, and world championships bring together the strongest athletes. In Lithuania, blind tennis began in 2021 at the “M7 Sport Balzekas Tennis Academy” courts in Vilnius, and Lithuanian athletes already participate in European and world championships. Aidas Danilovas, vice president of “Blind Sport Lt,” emphasizes the need for greater visibility and sponsorship for this sport in Lithuania: “For more blind and visually impaired people in Lithuania to have the opportunity to play blind tennis, strong financial support and broader public backing are essential. Sponsorship would help… Read More »First Lithuanian Blind Tennis Championship to Take Place

Over 225 participants took part of the 2024 Blind Tennis World Championships in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy. This included 117 players from 20 countries and about 50 volunteers and staff. Italy 2024 was the largest IBTA event to date.