UPCOMING athlete Yves Sikubwabo, who was expected to lead Rwanda’s hunt for silverware in Singapore Youth Olympic Games disappeared last month after participating in the World Junior Athletics Championships in Canada, Times Sport has learnt.

Sikubwabo, 17 clocked a personal best time of 3:50.15 finishing a distant 12th in the decisive 1500m heat race in Moncton.

The youngster was entered in the competition such that he could work on his fitness ahead of this month’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games scheduled for August 14-26.

The local athletics federation Jack Ngabonziza said yesterday, "We are really disappointed but we are going to follow up this issue with IAAF to see if they can help us locate him (Sikubwabo).”

Meanwhile, Thierry Ntwali, (the Chef de Mission) and the technical team of the Singapore bound team have already found a replacement. 

Sikubwabo will be replaced with Potien Ntawuyirushintege. The 17-year-old took part in the 800m at the just concluded African Senior Championship. He finished eighth in the heat stages clocking 1.56.56.

Ntwali said, "It is so disappointing that such an athlete of his quality disappeared just like that. We had high hopes in him but we expect his replacement to deliver also.”

Sikubwabo belonged to New Athletic Stars club based in Kicukiro and he had completed his senior six at Efotec in Kicukiro district.

Rwanda will field competitors in swimming, athletics and boxing after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allocated four wildcard Rwanda National Olympic Committee.

The team is in camp at Hotel Tech, Remera and holds daily training sessions at Amahoro stadium. The team in camp is comprised of Alphonsine Agahozo (swimming), Hakiza Matusi (boxing) as well as Adeline Musabyeyezu (athletics).

Agahozo, 13 booked a place on the team after winning the KCB sponsored competition in Huye last year.

Matusi, 17, was picked by the boxing federation after he exhibited good performances in 2009 East Military Games staged in Kigali.

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