RWANDA men’s sitting volleyball champions Gisagara and the national women team are set to feature for the first time in the East African Championships due next month in Nairobi, Kenya from August 20 to 24.

Both teams are set to start training on August 3 and will set-off for Niarobi on August18, two days before the tournament kicks off.

Despite participating in the regional competitions for the maiden time, both teams will be going for titles, according National Paralympics Committee (NPC) president Celestin Nzeyimana.

"We are going to compete in the East African championships for our first time but it doesn’t mean we are going there just to participate, we are targeting to win titles in both categories,” Nzeyimana told Times Sport on Tuesday.

He also noted that the competition will be a good platform for both teams to evaluate their preparedness ahead of qualifiers for the 2016 Paralympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games are set for next year and NPC is aiming at having both teams qualify after the men’s team made its debut at the 2012 London Paralympics.

Named squads:

Men: Emile Vuningoma, Callixte Twagirayezu, Vincent Tuyisenge, Jean Baptiste Gahamanyi, Fulgence Hagenimana, Jean Baptiste Murema, Jean Bosco Ngizwenimana, Jean Rukundo, Bernard Ahishakiye, Désiré Serugo, Semana, Prosper Kuramba and Emmanuel Isingizwe.

Women: Claudine Bazumugira, Sandrine Nyirambarushimana, Brigitte Nikuze, Marie Alice Musabye, Agnès Nyiranshimiyimana, Solange Mukamusana, Liliane Mukobwankabo, Carine Kwizera, Egidia Nirere, Yvonne Imanishimwe, Claudine Murebwayire and Providence Nyirantungane.