Pair gears up for Fina World Championship

KENT Manzi and Jackson Niyomugabo will represent Rwanda at the 10th Fina World Swimming Championships due in United Arab Emirates from December 15-19.This was confirmed by the president of the national swimming federation Samuel Kinimba. “They are genuine prospects and we hope they will compete to their full potential in UAE,” said Kinimba. Niyomugabo, who featured at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, bagged four gold medals in the just concluded inaugural regional open swimming championship which was held at Kampala International School of Uganda (KISU). He was simply untouchable in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle.His outstanding performances helped Rwanda finish third behind Uganda A and B sides. Kenya trailed in fourth place. The world championship will be staged at the new, state-of-the-art Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex. One of the famous names expected to grace the event is Brazil’s Cesar Cielo, who is ranked number one in the world over the 50m freestyle in short course. Another major contender is South African Cameron van der Bergh, who won gold in the 50m breaststroke (long course) at the just ended Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Ends