Knee injury ends Muvunyi’s 400m medal bid

THE 800m World champion Hermas Cliff Muvunyi suffered a last minute knee injury to bow out of the 400m T46 semi final yesterday at the IPC World Athletics Championship in Lyon, France.

Friday, July 26, 2013
Hermas Cliff Muvunyi [C] on the winners' podium after the 800m gold medal victory. The New Times/Courtesy.

THE 800m World champion Hermas Cliff Muvunyi suffered a last minute knee injury to bow out of the 400m T46 semi final yesterday at the IPC World Athletics Championship in Lyon, France.The National Paralympic Committee chairman Celestin Nizeyimana confirmed the development. He said, "He [Muvunyi] suffered a knee injury which he sustained during the 800m win and the situation ruled him out of the contest for the 400m.”"He felt he was ready to run but withdrew in the early morning hours after a warm-up session,” added Nizeyimana.The 24-year old who will not compete again in the competition flew the Rwandan flag high for the first time in the IPC World Championship on Monday when he won a gold medal in 800m T46 category running 1:54:06 to register his best personal time.Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Hudson Shane registered a season best time of 49.74 to qualify for the final. The athletes who booked a place in the final include Uggl Dena Pathiran from Sri Lanka, Bhebe Tshepo from South Africa and Mazin Aldosai from Saudi Arabia from the first semi final.Austria’s Matzinger Gunther led the qualification from the second semi final after clocking a season best 49.60 ahead of Cuba’s Calderon Ettiam, Jamaica’s Bascoe David and Italy’s Gobbi Samuele who all booked a place in the final.Muvunyi will return to the country on Monday to a grand welcome.