The official establishment of this sport in Kyrgyzstan took place in 2023, when T-Club organized a seminar featuring Kazakh experts in inclusive sports, Sergey Selivanov and Yerzhan Isakov. At that time, adaptive tennis already had its infrastructure in Kazakhstan and was hosting tournaments for wheelchair athletes.
According to Nelly Buyuklyanova, director of T-Club and president of the Inclusive Tennis Federation, "this is just the beginning. My dream is to provide an opportunity for those who cannot run to still enjoy playing tennis. This sport is filled with respect, tolerance, and the spirit of competition. It truly inspires!"
Nelly Buyuklyanova.
To create opportunities for wheelchair tennis in the country, mere enthusiasm proved insufficient.
Nelly Buyuklyanova notes: "Adaptive tennis easily integrates with classic tennis. Players use the same courts and rackets, but the ball can bounce twice — once on the court and once outside of it. However, before opening groups for wheelchair tennis players, we needed to prepare the club's infrastructure to ensure accessibility for athletes in wheelchairs. We also needed to purchase specialized wheelchairs, which required significant financial investment. I am grateful to everyone who supported us in this endeavor."
This year, wheelchair tennis players participated for the first time in an international tournament in Astana.
Sveta Esenkazieva, one of the participants, says: "It was not only a new challenge but also an opening of new opportunities. We gained many skills and made new acquaintances. Tennis and sports in general bring me joy. I ended up in a wheelchair in 2013 after an accident."
Sveta works at the organization "Equality," which helps improve the lives of people with disabilities, including through educational programs.
"I came to sports thanks to many factors: my director Kazakunov and my arm wrestling coach Tolkunbek Isakov," shares Sveta. "Tennis allows me to forget about negativity and leave with positive emotions. I am grateful to Nelly Buyuklyanova for the opportunity to engage in this amazing sport. I dream of participating in the Paralympics in tennis. Of course, much depends on God, but also on our efforts."
Tennis, both classic and wheelchair, represents not only a sport but also an opportunity for self-expression and expanding social connections.
Nelly Buyuklyanova emphasizes: "T-Club has six specialized wheelchairs, allowing six athletes with disabilities to train simultaneously. Classes are completely free for everyone interested. We strive to increase the number of wheelchair tennis players. Our address is: Toktogul St., 75 (intersection with Usenbaev). Phone for registration: +996 770 89 14 64. We are waiting for you!"
