Wimbledon honour for deaf star

From: ic NorthWales, UK - Jul 15, 2004

Wrexham Mail

TENNIS: A WREXHAM-BASED ace was celebrated at this year's Wimbledon championships for her achievements with the British Deaf Tennis squad.

Sharon Templeman, 26, from Ruabon, was presented with a trophy at the SW19 event in recognition of her performances as a member of the all-conquering squad.

Templeman was a key part of the British team that won the deaf tennis Maere Cup - the equivalent of the Federations Cup - in Austria.

It was only the second time Great Britain had won the top competition in deaf tennis, in the event's 35-year history. Along with teammates, Catherine Graham and 17-year-old twins Beth and Alex Simmons, Templeman led her side to the most memorable of triumphs.

Templeman, a bronze medal winner in the ladies doubles at the 2001 Deaflympics in Rome, played in all four doubles matches in the Maere Cup, and remained unbeaten to help the team secure an historic victory.

Team coach Roger Jones commented: 'It was a fantastic achievement for such a young team and they can only improve after enjoying the experience of international competition.'

The tennis star is now in contention for medals again at the European Deaf Tennis Championships in France next month and at the next Deaflympic Games in Melbourne, Australia in January.

Copyright Trinity Mirror Plc 2004