ORGANISERS of tennis coaching sessions in Bradford hope to produce the next Andy Murray from the city after winning a national award.

 

Shapla Sports Initiative, which started last year, holds sessions every fortnight at the BEAP Community Sports Hall, Cornwall Road, Manningham, for children aged between five and 14, which are regularly attended by 60 youngsters.

 

Shapla was created to help the Bangladeshi community in the city get involved in sport, by providing them with opportunities for development in a number of different activities.

 

The sessions picked up the special achievement award at the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSAs).

 

Shapla Sports beat competition from Khizra Mosque in Manchester, the North London Muslim Community Centre, and the Dery Foundation, based in Birmingham, when lead coach Humayun Islam picked up the prize at the ceremony held in London on Saturday.

 

Eight children from the group will also pay a visit to Wimbledon, on April 18, as part of a tie-up between Shapla Sports and the Tennis Foundation.

 

Mr Islam said he hoped the award would raise the profile of the tennis group and help produce future stars.

 

He said: “We want to produce the next Andy Murray, it’s a possibility. We want to produce top girl players too.

 

“A year ago there was no tennis participation. We have gone from no children picking up a racquet to more than 60 taking part now.

 

“The children who take part are mainly from Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds.

 

“The children who take part in our tennis sessions are also joining in our football coaching sessions – the sessions give children the opportunity to take part in different sports.

 

“The award is the icing on the cake for us. It’s unbelievable.

 

“We have only been doing it for a year. We want to keep it going and expand it now.

 

“It was great to win the award and be representing the North and Bradford.”