Newly elected Rwanda Taekwondo Federation president Placide Bagabo has pledged that his administration will work hard to take the sport to another level in the next four years. Bagabo made the comments during the official handover ceremony held at Champion Hotel, and was witnessed by the taekwondo fraternity as well as other partners that included officials from the Ministry of Sports and Culture, and Rwanda National Sports and Olympic Committee (RNSOC). Bagabo officially received the instruments of power from outgoing president Dr. David Hakizimana. The new president’s executive committee has Fabrice Elysee Mugorewase from Blue Sky Taekwondo Academy as the new vice president, Boniface (IYE Taekwondo Club) the secretary general to replace Bagabo. Bagabo congratulated his predecessor, Hakizimana, for the good leadership and work done in the last eight years. He said that, “There is no questioning the solid foundation you built for all these years, the achievements and results speak for themselves. We shall continue from here and we promise to improve.” Bagabo urged the in-coming committee to, “uphold self-esteem, serve with patriotism and devotion in order to build solid relations with clubs, athletes, regional and international taekwondo bodies in order to promote the sport in Rwanda.” Gaspard Kaijuka, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Sports and Culture, commended the outgoing committee for success attained over the past eight years, and promised that the Ministry will continue to support the federation to register more success in the coming years. Since 2010, Rwandan taekwondo has registered success that ranges from training of coaches, administrators, building structures, hosting regional as well as continental competitions. Rwanda Taekwondo Federation has also seen an increase in the number of domestic clubs from 2-30 countrywide, on top of winning medals at international competitions including gold at the London World Para-Taekwondo Championships, last year. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
