Regis Francois Ishimwe and Assoumpta Isimbi Kamanda have stepped up preparations ahead of the Africa Youth Games slated for May 22 to 31 in Gaborone, Botswana.

The duo under the tutelage of Coach Yves Ndizeye, have been training twice every day in Ruhango, Southern Province since this month began.

 "Preparations are going on well and we remain optimistic of staging a good performance in Botswana,” Ndizeye told Times Sport yesterday.

However, he expressed frustration over lack of transport to assemble the athletes together since they are students from the different schools. 

Table Tennis is among ten sporting disciplines which will send athletes in the Africa Youth Games which will act as a qualification mark for Nanjing Youth Olympic Games due in August. 

Athletics, basketball (3 on 3), cycling, fencing, golf, karate, lawn tennis taekwondo and volleyball are the other federations that will send participants to Gaborone.