Shaik Jafreen (born 7 September 1997) is a deaf Indian tennis player.[1] She represented India at the Deaflympics in 2013 and 2017.[2] She claimed a bronze medal in the mixed doubles at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics partnering with Prithvi Sekhar.[3][4][5]
| Born | 7 September 1997 Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India | ||||||||||||||
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| Plays | right-handed | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Career edit
Jafreen started playing tennis when she was just eight years old. She went on to become a formidable tennis player despite being deaf, after being noticed by India's best female tennis player, Sania Mirza, and gaining assistance from her,[6][7] receiving training at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy which is located in Hyderabad.[8][9]
She went on to represent India at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics which was also her first Deaflympic appearance. As in the as of Prithvi Sekhar, she did not win a medal in her debut Deaflympic event. She was chosen to compete for India at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics as India sent a delegation consisting of 46 participants for the multi-sport event, the largest number of athletes sent by India to a single Summer Deaflympics.[10] Jafreen along with Prithvi Sekhar won a historical bronze medal in the mixed doubles at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics, marking India's first ever Deaflympic medal in tennis.[11][12]
Awards and recognition edit
Jafreen received the Jury Special Recognition in Sports at the Sakshi Excellence Awards 2017.[13]
In 2021, she was honored with the national award for sporting excellence by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, being recognized as the best sportsperson with a disability (hearing impaired).[14]
In accordance with its sports policy of offering Group-1 posts to international sportspersons, the Andhra Pradesh government extended a government job offer to Jafreen in November 2023.[15]
References edit
- ^ "ITF Profile of Jafreen Shaik". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Jafreen Shaik | Deaflympics". www.deaflympics.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ Krishnan, Vivek (4 August 2017). "Prithvi Sekhar defies odds for Deaflympics bronze". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "Deaflympics 2017 Samsun". www.deaflympics2017.org (in Turkish). Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Prithvi Sekhar defies odds for Deaflympics bronze". article.wn.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ Subrahmanyam, V. v (15 June 2017). "Jafreen determined to scale new heights". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Jafreen to lead India in Deaf Olympics". The Hans India. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ Nellore, Sujayendra Krishna. "The Incredible Shaik Jafreen | The Deaf International Tennis Star". www.stumagz.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Shaik Jafreen is ready to take on the world". www.deccanchronicle.com. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu/20170725/282578788107366. Retrieved 3 February 2018 – via PressReader.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Bureau, Sports; Bureau, Sports (28 July 2017). "Bronze for Prithvi and Jafreen". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Bringing home the laurels". www.deccanchronicle.com. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Sakshi Excellence Awards 2017: Outstanding Personalities". Sakshi Post. 12 August 2018. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Sudhakar, K. Madhu (4 November 2021). "2022 Deaflympics: Andhra tennis player Shaik Jafreen looks for sponsors to realise her dream". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "AP offers Deaf Olympics champ Group-1 post". Deccan Chronicle. 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
External links edit
- Jafreen Shaik at the International Tennis Federation
- Jafreen Shaik Jafreen at the Women's Tennis Association
- Shaik Jafreen Jafreen at TennisExplorer
- Jafreen Shaik Jafreen at CoreTennis
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