Nine Karatekas will represent Rwanda at the upcoming African Karate Championships in the city of Casablanca in Morocco.
The 2023 UFAK Senior, Cadet and Junior Championships, scheduled for August 14 to 20, will see the best karatekas in the continent clash for the African crown. The competition will be held at Palais de Sports Med V sports complex.
Rwanda's squad of nine managed by Noel Nkuranyabahizi includes two high-school teenagers Lucie Yezakuzwe, 17, and Sidike Niyonkuru, 18, who are set to make their debuts on the UFAK stage. Yezakuzwe is a Senior 4 student at GS Kagugu in Kigali while Niyonkuru is a Senior 3 student at GS Gisozi, also in Kigali.
Rwanda last participated in the annual continental championships in 2019, in Botswana. But the best memories were in 2018 when Africa's best karatekas descended on Kigali and Rwanda's team fought bravery to win its first-ever gold in a continental championship.
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Rwanda was not represented in the 2022 edition of the continental championships held in Durban, South Africa. Over 300 athletes from 27 countries participated, with Egypt topping the final medal table with 32 medals including 19 golds.
Rwanda&039;s full squad for UFAK 2023:
1. Fiston Ntwali, 23, Kumite ‐67kg, APR Karate-Do.
2. Halifa Niyitanga, 22, Kumite ‐75kg, The Champions Sports Academy.
3. Flavien Munyaneza, 22, Kumite ‐61kg, Zen Karate-Do.
4. Sharifu Dushime, 20, Kata, The Champions Sports Academy.
5 .Lucie Yezakuzwe,17, Kumite ‐53 kg and Kata, Flying Eagle.
6. Sidike Niyonkuru, 18, Kata, The Champions Sports Academy.
7. Razia Uwase, 24, Kumite ‐61kg and Kata. APR Karate-Do.
8. Espoir Ntungane, 30, Kumite ‐84kg, APR Karate-Do.
9. Maic Shyaka Ndutiye, 22, Kumite ‐61kg, APR Karate-Do.