Taekwondo get nod

TAEKWONDO has been added to the sports disciplines in which Rwanda will be represent at the 10th All Africa Games, which will take place in September in Maputo, Mozambique. The inclusion of Taekwondo was confirmed yesterday by an official in the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture, Gaspard Kayijuka. “Taekwondo agreed to meet their own expenses and we had no reason to deny them the chance of sending their athletes to the games,” Kayijuka told Sunday Sports. He however noted that the Taekwondo team will meet their own expenses as opposed to being facilitated by the government. With Taekwondo inclusive, the list of disciplines for Maputo games has been increased to 12. Others include; basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, athletics, boxing, tennis, table tennis, karate, swimming, cycling and sport for the disabled. Kayijuka further added that Rwanda’s contingent, which initial stood at a record 141, has been reduced to 113 due to costs constraints. Preps started Meanwhile, the veteran administrator also confirmed that some teams have already started preparations for the Games. All teams will start residential training two weeks before the Games start. In the last edition held in Algiers in 2007, Rwanda failed to win a medal. Dieudonne Disi came closest to the podium after a fourth spot finish in the half marathon. This year’s event is slated to run from September 3-18; attracting over 5000 athletes competing in 23 disciplines. The Maputo Games will also be a platform for the athletes to attain qualifying times for the 2012 London event. In a related development, some of Rwanda’s medal hopefuls are benefiting from Olympic scholarships to prepare themselves ahead of the Maputo and London Games. The athletes who are training in different centers across the world include cyclist Adrien Niyonshuti, Alphonsine Agahozo (swimming), Sylvain Rukundo (athletics), Epiphanie Nyirabarame (athletics) and Maurice Bikorimana (boxing). Ends