In a world, where vision is often taken for granted, Naqi Rizvi – World Blind Tennis Champion in 2023, has shown that true sight lies in the heart and spirit. Naqi has been chosen as one of our latest CiaO Champions to receive a Grant. Having provided a Grant for Naqi’s 2024 season, CiaO have since secured funding for Naqi for 2025 from two corporate donors, Cyril Leonard and Park Place retail. This Grant not only recognises his exceptional talent on the court but also his indomitable will to surpass boundaries and redefine what it means to be a champion.
Naqi’s journey has been one of resilience and determination. Visually impaired at birth and fully blind by seven, he has faced a world somewhat shrouded in darkness. Yet, he has found light in the sound of a tennis ball and the feel of a racquet in his hand. Tennis has become his challenge, his opportunity, and his passion. With each swing, he has shattered limitations, proving that the human spirit knows no bounds. His rise to the top was not just a victory for himself but an inspiration for all. As well as his championship tennis career, Naqi is an engineering graduate, now working in the financial services, and is a very active disability advocate.
The CiaO Grant will hopefully act as a testament to his hard work and the countless hours spent mastering the court without sight. It will provide support allowing Naqi to access equipment, coaching, and competitions throughout 2025, with tournaments already scheduled in Loughborough, Hertfordshire, Glasgow, and the Nationals in Wrexham. With this award, helping him to keep competing, Naqi will continue to serve as a symbol of hope, showing the world that with courage, every challenge is an opportunity to excel.
