Rafa: "I want to help kids have a better life"
October 18.2010, India
Rafa Nadal arrived in India late on Saturday night and inaugurated the Rafa Nadal Tennis School at the Anantapur Sports Village in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The tennis star quietly slipped in to the country unnoticed. The world No.1 was supposed to be in India for three days but had to cut short his trip after missing a flight and spent only a day at his newly-inaugurated academy set up in collaboration with Fundacion Vincente Ferrer.
The center court was inaugurated at 9.30am after which he interacted with a few children from the school and played tennis with them.
"I'm speechless, I have no words to describe just how happy I am," said one of the girls when asked what it meant to her to have Rafa Nadal in their community caring for them.
RAFA UNVEILS A NEW SCHOOL IN INDIA
Video by rtve.es -
The center court was inaugurated at 9.30am after which he interacted with a few children from the school and played tennis with them.
"I'm speechless, I have no words to describe just how happy I am," said one of the girls when asked what it meant to her to have Rafa Nadal in their community caring for them.
RAFA UNVEILS A NEW SCHOOL IN INDIA
Video by rtve.es -
"I'm very conscious of the fact that I can use my image to help make a difference in a large scale," he said after the inauguration. "It gives me a great deal of happiness knowing I'm helping them have a better childhood and I really hope they make the best out of this opportunity".Rafa's mother, and president of the Rafa Nadal foundation, Ana Maria Parera, watched with pride as her son concluded his visit in India.
"I would love to come back in a few years and see how those who have studied here have a new life," concluded Rafa before speaking about his wishes to take it easy in the next two weeks. "I need to rest, mentally and physically."
"We don't pretend to make tennis players [at this school]. We just want to trace the mentality and the ideals of Rafa", she continued. "At the end of the day, they are giving to us a lot more than what we are giving to them".Moncho Ferrer, son of Vicente Ferrer and Director of the foundation named after his father explained that "everyone wants to be like Rafa. He motivates people and inspires them to be better. We are here to give these kids a chance to follow their dreams."
Vamos Rafa!
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