RWANDA’s trio start their bid for Real Insurance Lawn Kenya Tennis Open championship title this morning at the Nairobi Public Service Club. The one-week competition runs from June 15 to 22. The Rwandan players in this year’s tournament include; top seed Jean Claude Gasigwa, seed four Olivier Havugimana and fifth-seeded Mathieu Uwizeyimana.

Gasigwa, 30, is the beaten finalist of last year’s edition and will be up to battle for his second title following 2008 triumph.

Gasigwa, defending champion Duncan Mugabe of Uganda and 2012 champion Edgar Kazembe of Zambia are favourites of the competition but will all face stiff challenge from Kenya’s junior Ishmael Changawa, who finished third in singles category last year.

The one-week event has attracted over 200 players from 15 countries.  145 men and 66 women will compete in various categories namely men and women’s singles, doubles, handicap, veterans and wheelchair.

Participating countries are: Organizers Kenya who has the highest turnout, Uganda, Burundi, USA, Canada, DR Congo, German, Japan, Sweden, Slovakia, Great Britain, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.