National Indigenous Tennis Carnival opens in Darwin with 160+ players

More than 160 young First Nations tennis players from across Australia descended upon the Darwin International Tennis Centre as the seventh National Indigenous Tennis Carnival (NITC) got underway.

Held over four days from Wednesday, August 5 to Saturday, August 8, the event aims to use tennis to celebrate culture, strengthen community connections and promote education, health and wellbeing.

Held in Larrakia Country, the four day celebration is the nation’s largest gathering of young First Nations tennis players, bringing together sport, culture, health, education and community.

The NITC involves participants from every state and territory, including nine teams from the Northern Territory representing Darwin, Palmerston and remote communities East Arnhem, Arlparra, Groote Eylandt, Jabiru, Jilkminggan and the Tiwi Islands.

As the pinnacle event of Tennis Australia’s First Nations tennis pathway, the NITC provides opportunities for both experienced players and those picking up a racquet for the first time.

The tournament features two streams of play, one for performance including a competitive showdown, and one for participation featuring Hot Shots Tennis and Future Stars for beginner and intermediate players.

Special trophies will be presented to winning teams and competitors, with the Evonne Goolagong Medal of Excellence and the Ash Barty Cup awarded at the conclusion of the carnival.

“It’s a privilege and an honour to host this event again in Darwin. It’s an incredible celebration of First Nations culture, community, and of course, tennis,” chief executive of Tennis NT Tania Tandora said.

“Through this event, we continue to create opportunities for First Nations players and develop their skills on court while also building confidence and connection off the court.

“This event is a wonderful example, and I think one of the best examples of what happens when we continually invest in communities and create spaces where young people can have fun, come together, celebrate their culture, play, learn, and develop.”

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