Johannesburg - South Africa's number one wheelchair tennis player, Lucas Sithole, has urged all South Africans to take the Paralympics games as seriously as the Olympics and give the team their full support.
Sithole was speaking following his inclusion in the 2012 London Paralympics team announced at SASCOC's Olympic House this week.
According to the Gauteng Provincial Government, although he would like to come back home with a medal, Sithole is cautious of being over-confident.
"The preparations are already underway and I am training hard to try and bring back home something from London. As I am speaking, I am jetting off to France for the French Open which is one of the wheelchair tennis' Grand Slams and I believe it will help in my preparations," he said.
In January this year, Sithole won the Australian Open in Melbourne, beating the tournament's top seed, Britain's Jamie Burdekin 7-6, 6-2 and 7-6 (5).
The sports star praised the province's wheelchair tennis development, particularly at the University of Johannesburg.
Sithole encouraged all South Africans to give the Paralympics team the same support as they would give to the Olympics team.
SASCOC President Gideon Sam echoed Sithole's sentiments when he said it was only right that the Paralympians got their deserved share of publicity.
"Let me remind you that the first South Africans to represent their country at the Paralympics numbered just nine, way back at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics and they set the benchmark by bringing back eight gold medals," said Sam.
This year South Africa will be represented by 62 athletes - four athletes less than the squad which participated in Beijing in 2008.
The team will participate in seven different codes, including Athletics, Cycling, and Rowing. The 2012 London Paralympics kicks off on 29 August and end on 9 September.
