SOUTH African Sports Awards recipients Kgothatso Montjane and Lucas Sithole will represent the country in three tournaments in the US and Canada.

The two wheelchair tennis players jet out tomorrow to compete in the US Open from August 30 to September 4.

They will then proceed to Canada to compete in the Tennis Canada International Championships from September 8 to 11.

At the end of the tournament, the duo will return to the US to take part in the PTR Championships from September 15 to 18.

Montjane, who won the SA Disabled Sportswoman of the Year award in Sun City on Sunday, is Wheelchair Tennis South Africa (WTSA's) top-ranked player in the women's division.

The Limpopo player is ranked No13 in the world.

Sithole is also ranked No1 in the men's section in South Africa and No15 in the world. He walked away with the SA Disabled Sportsman of the Year award on Sunday.

The awards were organised by Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula.

The two South Africans are among a large pool of players attempting to increase their International Tennis Federation points to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics.

Montjane, who is a sports management student at the University of Pretoria, said: "I'm looking forward to doing well at the three tournaments abroad.

"I have been training hard in preparation for these tournaments and I also want to compete at the Paralympics next year."

Sithole said: "I'm hoping to get to the finals of the US Open as a stepping stone to the Paralympic Games in London next year.

"I know I can do it and I just want to focus on my game."

WTSA director Holger Losch said they were happy to see their players competing at high-profile international competitions to gain more experience and exposure.

WTSA is sponsored by Airports Company South Africa.