Jafreen Shaik

Shaik Jafreen (born 7 September 1997) is a deaf Indian tennis player.^[1] She represented India at the Deaflympics in 2013 and 2017.^[2] She claimed a bronze medal in the mixed doubles at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics partnering with Prithvi Sekhar.^[3][4][5]

Shaik Jafreen

Born	(1997-09-07) 7 September 1997 (age 27) Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India
Plays	right-handed
Medal record Women's tennis Representing  India Deaflympics 2017 Samsun mixed doubles

Career

Jafreen started playing tennis when she was just eight years old. She went on to become a formidable tennis player despite being deaf, after being noticed by India's best female tennis player, Sania Mirza, and gaining assistance from her,^[6][7] receiving training at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy which is located in Hyderabad.^[8][9]

She went on to represent India at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics which was also her first Deaflympic appearance. As in the as of Prithvi Sekhar, she did not win a medal in her debut Deaflympic event. She was chosen to compete for India at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics as India sent a delegation consisting of 46 participants for the multi-sport event, the largest number of athletes sent by India to a single Summer Deaflympics.^[10] Jafreen along with Prithvi Sekhar won a historical bronze medal in the mixed doubles at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics, marking India's first ever Deaflympic medal in tennis.^[11][12]

Awards and recognition

Jafreen received the Jury Special Recognition in Sports at the Sakshi Excellence Awards 2017.^[13]

In 2021, she was honored with the national award for sporting excellence by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, being recognized as the best sportsperson with a disability (hearing impaired).^[14]

In accordance with its sports policy of offering Group-1 posts to international sportspersons, the Andhra Pradesh government extended a government job offer to Jafreen in November 2023.^[15]