VISA hitches have forced Rwanda to call off participation in the 10th WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships scheduled to run from March 20-26 in Taipei, China.

The Rwanda Taekwondo Federation Secretary General Placide Magambo told Saturday Sport yesterday that they failed to secure Chinese visas on time for the World Championships.

"At first, the host nation had promised to facilitate all participating teams to acquire visas, however, they later communicated saying that we should secure visas through our own means,” he disclosed.

Emmanuel Twagiramungu and Delphine Uwababyeyi were supposed to represent Rwanda at the event. It would have been a debut appearance at the global event for the two who are15 years old each.

However, Magambo noted that they will continue to prepare the athletes for the Africa Youth Championships, which will be held in Botswana in May.

With Rwanda missing the world championship, it is not yet known if the country will send competitors at the Youth Olympic Games, also to be hosted by China in Nanjing from August 16-28.