Yankurije steps up preps for ticket to Tokyo 2020 Games

APR Athletics Club runner Martha Yankurije has intensified her training regime at Amahoro National Stadium, Remera, as she bids to book a ticket to the forthcoming 2020 Olympic Games slated in July this year. The female athlete, who runs in the 10,000m and 5,000m categories, is looking to represent Rwanda at the Olympic Games for the first time in her career. She now has her personal professional coach who has been helping to improve her personal running best which, through upcoming competitions, could help her achieve her dream of making it to the Tokyo 2020 Games. “I’ve been training since we were cleared to resume training after the lockdown and I am doing well. My coach is helping me to improve my times and I am confident there is a chance to win a ticket to the Olympic Games,” Yankurije told Times Sport. Yankurije is among athletes who stand a chance of sealing a spot in the Tokyo 2020 Games, alongside compatriot runner James Sugira, as well as the national men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams. They would join marathon runners Felicien Muhitira and John Hakizimana, the only athletes to have so far earned a place at Tokyo 2020 games. Recently, a number of Rwandan athletes were worried that their chances of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Games were at risk due to lack of competitions during which they would participate to earn a ticket. This came after a number of international competitions in different sporting disciplines were either forcefully cancelled or postponed to later dates as countries continue to monitor Covid-19 across the globe. The pandemic has also been a major scare for the sporting world, especially the Tokyo 2020 which were pushed for another year between July 23 and August 8 this year. The Games were originally due to take place from July 24 to August 9, 2020. Yankurije said the hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games were boosted by the fact that some international athletics competitions are resuming. “I am looking forward to participating at international competitions. I am training hard with my coach and I hope I can soon get competitions in which I could get the required standard times for the Olympic Games,” she said.

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Yankurije steps up preps for ticket to Tokyo 2020 Games