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To feel more familiar with the world of para-sports, we want to get experience to play the para-sports actually. The Yoshida Memorial Tennis Training Center (TTC) kindly provided us to try wheelchair tennis. The four of us had never even been in a wheelchair before, but we had very valuable experiences with assistance of R.K.
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Impressions after the experience.
A.I
 | After experience, I realized how hard it is and how fun it is at the same time. There were times when I got confused because I couldn't operate the wheelchair properly, or the ball didn't hit the racket in the first place. But after experiencing it, I was able to enjoy it while thinking about how much I wanted to do more and how happy I would be if I could do this. (I felt very tired in my lower body, even though I didn't use my legs on wheelchair tennis.) |
T.O
 | "Chairwork" was difficult. Even without a racket, it was difficult to move the wheelchair in a straight line. It was more difficult to move the wheelchair with holding the racket, and it was frustrating to not be able to catch up with the ball even on a two-bounce shot. It was very difficult to do the two roles of arms and legs with only arms. I was able to see firsthand how amazing it is for people and players to be able to freely operate a wheelchair. It was a strange feeling to exercise without using my lower body because I was sitting on a wheelchair, and I also used my upper body and core which I could move freely. |
T.N
 | After experiencing, I realized that playing tennis with controlling the wheelchair is not only difficult but also requires a lot of physical strength and endurance. To chase the ball should move the wheelchair quickly and it requires physical and endurance. In addition, it was difficult to hit while moving, and even if I could hit while moving, I would end up coming in front of the ball as I was hitting it. Not only that, but in rallies, you have to hit the ball where your opponent can easily hit it, and I thought the para-sports players who could do that were amazing. |
M.M
 | I found out that the Paralympic athletes were doing something very difficult. Also, I couldn't hit while moving around the court, so I had to stop the wheelchair before I could hit, which wasted a lot of arm strength. It was difficult for me to make a half-turn and then move to hit. |
R.K
 | Seeing a beginner do it, I learned once again how difficult and deep the sport is. |
