A total of 155 players are expected to compete in the second edition of the Taekwondo Gorilla Open tournament which is scheduled for January 10-11 at Amahoro indoor stadium.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at Amahoro stadium, the Rwanda Taekwondo Federation Secretary General Placide Bagabo said the 155 players (juniors and seniors) will come from 12 African countries.

Egypt will send four players, Democratic Republic of Congo (four), Burundi 6, Kenya 18, Uganda 23, while hosts Rwanda will have 16 players, who will feature for national teams and the other 84 will compete for individual honors. The first edition of the competitions that was held in January last year at Amahoro stadium attracted four countries including DR Congo, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.  

"Preparations are going on well, everything is in line and we are expecting to host a much better and bigger tournament than the first edition,” Bagabo said.

Individual best performers will be awarded medals while winning teams (countries) will walk away with winners’ trophies.

Meanwhile the Taekwondo Technical Director, Martin Koonce was appointed the Executive Director of Rwanda National Olympic Committee.

Last year, Koonce was appointed on the Africa Taekwondo Union (AFTU) as the in-charge of the Zone V region.