HighFIVE: Amina Abdullaeva
It’s one thing to be a great tennis player heading into the 8th grade and also be recognized for strong sportsmanship. It’s another thing if you give credit to your family, especially your older sister, for your success. And it’s downright impressive if you started a foundation to give back to the community at a very young age. However, these things are all true about up and coming netter, Amina Abdullaeva.
Amina, who attends Cherry Creek Academy, reached the finals of the Girls 14s Intermountain Summer Championships (as an unseeded player) after having won the Intermountain District Cup Series in May. She also won the Little Mo – a sportsmanship trophy, reflecting her belief that respect for one another and the game itself is key.
Raised by parents, Dilovar and Nika, who came to the US from Tajikistan in 2000, Amina had the combination of physical and mental skills needed to progress.
“Amina was very disciplined and passionate about tennis,” Dilovar said about his daughter’s early days on the court.
That discipline, combined with the opportunity to consistently play with older sister, Deena, are keys to Amina’s success. Having a sibling also great at tennis isn’t something Amina takes for granted.
If fact, Amina said her role model is her sister, Deena.
“I really want to be my like sister,” Amina explains. “She’s a really good example for me. I watch her and her style of play. I’ve watched her my whole life.”
Besides being hitting partners, the sisters often warm each other up and always support one another.
It was on one of those days hitting together that the girls decided they wanted to do something more than just become great players. They came up with the idea that they could give lessons to families who couldn’t afford to pay.
“We talked about how we really do love tennis and that it might be fun to teach others,” Amina said.
From that concept, Amina and Deena started the Colorado Spirit Sports Foundation. The foundation received the Napal Award in 2018. She is proud that they have not only spread tennis to underprivileged youth, but also raised enough money to build a roof on an orphanage in Nepal.
Amina said tennis really challenges her mental side and she likes to see how tough she can compete. With a warm up routine that includes listening to music and keeping herself positive, she said her advice to younger athletes coming up is the same advice her parents gave her.
“If you really want to grow with the sport and become big in the sport, just keep doing what you are doing. Respect is a big thing- work hard and never give up. Set a big standard for yourself!”
