Hisham Mohammad (ON)

Wheelchair Athlete

INFO
Birthdate	December 29 1994
Birth place	Chennai, India
Residence	Hamilton, Ontario
Height	5’1" (157 cm)
Plays	Left-handed

Personal
What is your earliest tennis memory?	My earliest tennis memory dates back to 2005 or 2006 when I attended a demo session at the National Bank Open. It was an exciting experience. At that time, I was captivated by the sport, but I found it challenging, particularly because of the racquet skills required.
How, where, and when did you start playing?	I’ve always enjoyed team-based sports, having played wheelchair basketball before, but during my time in academia and the social isolation of the pandemic, I became more attuned to myself. I wanted a sport where I could fully control my own outcome, and tennis provided that. It requires a unique balance of physicality and mental focus, rewarding strategy over sheer physical strength. Additionally, wheelchair tennis offers a level playing field where a wider range of disabilities can compete, which I found especially compelling. What I love most is that there’s no asymptote in mastering tennis—you’re always a student of the game.
What made you decide to choose tennis?	I’ve always enjoyed team-based sports, having played wheelchair basketball before, but during my time in academia and the social isolation of the pandemic, I became more attuned to myself. I wanted a sport where I could fully control my own outcome, and tennis provided that. It requires a unique balance of physicality and mental focus, rewarding strategy over sheer physical strength. Additionally, wheelchair tennis offers a level playing field where a wider range of disabilities can compete, which I found especially compelling. What I love most is that there’s no asymptote in mastering tennis—you’re always a student of the game.
Your biggest inspiration and why?	Murlikant Petkar was a distinguished Indian boxer who served in the Indian Army and won a gold medal in boxing at the Military Games in Japan. His boxing career was marked by excellence, with several national titles and notable achievements. However, during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Petkar was severely injured, losing the use of his left leg due to a bullet wound. Rather than succumbing to the challenges, he displayed extraordinary resilience.
Favourite sport other than tennis?	Soccer
How has your family impacted your tennis career?	My family has been the biggest influence on my tennis career, acting as both my biggest critics and my strongest supporters. They’ve been incredibly accommodating, building their routine around me and adjusting to my training times, which are often as early as 7 a.m. twice a week. Without my family, I wouldn’t have found my way to Canada or been introduced to para sports. They were the ones who encouraged me to pursue tennis, and their unwavering support has been crucial to my progress. I owe all my success to them.
Favourite sports team?	FC Bayern München
Favourite athlete?	Past: Franck Ribéry, Present: Novak Djokovic
Favourite TV show?	Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Anime)
Favourite dish?	My mom’s biryani
Which actor/actress would play you in a movie?	Raj Koothrappali
Super power you wish you could have?	Teleportation
What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?	I sing and I played alto saxophone in a jazz band through high school and university. I love latin music.
Describe yourself in 3 words?	Happy, witty, funny.
If you weren’t playing tennis, what would you be doing?	Trying new parasports - I am really interested in para skiing and kite surfing!
Other than tennis, what are you most passionate about?	As a machine learning engineer, I am very passionate about how the advent of Artificial Intelligence can transform our world.