Wheelchair tennis star Alwande Sikhosana interacts with pupils at his former school in KZN.
International wheelchair tennis star Alwande Sikhosana received an emotional hero’s welcome at Harding Special School in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, June 17, returning to the institution where his journey in the sport first began.
Learners lined the school grounds carrying handmade plaques reading “My Hero”, “Inspiration” and “One of Our Own” as they welcomed back the former pupil whose achievements have elevated him to one of Africa’s leading wheelchair tennis players.
The homecoming celebrated both Sikhosana’s success on the international stage and the enduring bond between the athlete and the school that introduced him to wheelchair tennis at the age of nine.
Born in Umlazi, Sikhosana was introduced to the sport while attending Harding Special School after a childhood operation left him with mobility challenges. What began as an introduction quickly developed into a passion that would take him across the world. He is now ranked among the world’s top wheelchair tennis players.
