The British Paralympic Association has completed the selection of its tennis squad for Athens by adding Durham-based David Gardner to its team.
The 32-year-old completes a nine-strong tennis squad for the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.
Gardner is a twice winner of the men's singles at the North East Tournament in Sunderland, the first British-based world-ranking event on the international calendar. He was a quarter-finalist in that same event this year before going on to runner-up in the men's doubles at the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Gloucester last month, partnering Kevin Plowman, another player who already features in the squad for Athens.
Phil Lane, Britain's Chef de Mission for the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, said: "I'd like to congratulate David on his selection and welcome him to the British team for Athens."
The British tennis squad for Athens also includes Jayant Mistry and Simon Hatt, who were fourth in the men's doubles at Sydney 2000, as well as Kimberly Blake, who was fourth in the women's singles in Sydney, playing under her maiden name, Dell.
Quad tennis makes its Paralympic Games debut at Athens, and Britain's world number one Peter Norfolk is a strong medal contender. Britain could still be awarded further places for the tennis competition in Athens by the International Tennis Federation, which would be subject to British Paralympic Association ratification.
Great Britain is taking a team of up to 180 athletes to the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. The British team will have a tough task to better their impressive haul of 41 gold medals, 43 silvers and 47 bronzes from the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.
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