THE RWANDA national team has intensified preparations ahead of the 2014 edition of the quadrennial championship scheduled for July 23 in Glasgow, Scotland. The team composed of 21 athletes and 12 officials is camping in Kanombe, Gasabo district since the start of this month after several months of non-residential preparations. Rwanda will be making her second edition at the Commonwealth games following its admission into the family in 2009. The national team’s target is to win at least a medal in as far as their dream of building a generation of champions is concerned, a task the Rwanda National Olympic Committee has undertaken. Speaking to Sunday Sport, Chef de Mission Serge Mwambali said, “Athletes have intensified preparations and we believe they will stage pleasing performances in Glasgow,” “The first batch of the national team comprised of swimmers, boxers, parasport and athletics will leave for acclimatization in Glasgow on July 10,” The two remaining batches of comprised of long distance runners and cyclists will depart for Glasgow on June 24 and 27 respectively. In athletics, veteran runner Dieudonne Disi who is training in Kenya will lead the team alongside other marathon runners such as Jean Pierre Mvuyekure in the men’s race and Epiphanie Nyirabarame in the women’s. Joining them will be five 10,000 metres runners, Eric Sebahire, Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye and Felicien Muhitira for the men and Claudette Mukasakindi and Clementine Mukandanga for the women; a single 5,000m runner in the shape of Pontien Ntawuyirushintege; and two 800m runners, Emmanuel Ntakiyimana and Thimothee Bagina. Boxing is made up of Jean Maurice Bikorimana and Olivier Nshingiro while Theogene Hakizimana will compete in the Para-Sport Powerlifting category. Patrick Rukundo is the only swimmer on the squad and is lined up to compete in 100m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, and 50m freestyle. The cycling team is comprised of Hadi Janvier, Gasore Hategeka, Valens Ndayisenga, Adrien Niyonshuti, Jean Bosco Nsengimana and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, all to compete in the men’s individual time race and road race respectively. Rwanda made her debut at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, a year after being admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations. But they didn’t win any medal. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are set to attract more than 6,500 athletes and officials from 71 nations and territories competing in 17 sports disciplines in 11 days of competition slated to climax on August 3.
