Men’s final

Gicumbi 35-30 ES Kigoma

Women’s final

ES Mukingi 29-21 GS Gahengeri

REIGNING CHAMPIONS Gicumbi (men) and ES Mukingi (women) successfully defended the Heroes Day’ handball tournament titles after winning their respective finals on Sunday. Both finals were played at Kimisagara youth sports center.

Gicumbi beat Ruhango district-based ES Kigoma 35-30 in the final after finishing top of Pool A that was made up of Gicumbi, APR, University of Rwanda- College of Education (KIE) and University of Rwanda- College of arts and social sciences (NUR).

ES Kigoma reached the final after emerging leaders of Pool B that included Nyakabanda, three-time winners Police and ES Kigoma.

"It is a happy moment for Gicumbi handball club to manage to win the tournament for a second year running, we are delighted and I think this win will encourage us to work harder in preparation for the new season,” Gicumbi head coach Ebenezer Murenzi told this paper.

Meanwhile, with only three teams managing to take part instead of the seven that had been expected, ES Mukingi won the women’s category title after earning victories over APAPEG Cyuru and GS Gahengeri. They beat 29-21 GS Gahengeri in the final match.

Initially, 15 teams (8 for men and 7 for women) had been expected to take part, but only seven men’s and three women’s turned up for this year’s edition.