Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi lobbies for sport’s awareness and Paralympic inclusion

Naqi Rizvi loves the “absolute freedom” he feels on the tennis court. The 34-year-old blind tennis champion is on a mission to not only raise awareness but also elevate the sport into the Paralympics. The London resident, fully blind from the age of 7 because of congenital glaucoma, only took up the sport a decade ago and is now the No. 1-ranked men's player in the world for his category. Also an avid runner, Rizvi has completed two marathons, and although jogging with a guide is great, tennis offers more. "On a tennis court, I have absolute freedom because I know where the boundaries are. No one needs to tell me which way to turn. I don’t need to have a cane or anything of this sort," he told The Associated Press during a practice session at the National Tennis Center in southwest London. The rules are basically the same as mainstream tennis, just with smaller dimensions and a slightly lower net. Tactile lines are taped onto the court so players like Rizvi can feel the boundaries. Depending on the level of visual impairment, you are allowed up to three bounces of the ball. The foam ball contains a bell so players can audibly track it. Rizvi didn't even know that tennis was an option until he visited Metro Blind Sport in London a decade ago. He was hooked right away. "I can almost assure you that if you did a survey of blind and partially sighted people," he said, "the majority of them wouldn’t have any idea because it’s not televised, it’s not in any other mainstream events, so how are people supposed to find out?" Rizvi noted that there's not much financial backing in the sport. There's no prize money at tournaments, and players often fund their own travel. "Unless you obviously have the visibility and the money behind it, it’s really hard," he said. "Governing bodies need to take a more active role and try and give parity to all forms of disability tennis, not just the ones that have made it big, like wheelchair tennis, for example." This article was provided by The Associated Press.