Rwanda women sitting volleyball team will compete in next year’s Intercontinental Championship, which will be staged in China from March 17-23, the Rwanda Paralympics Committee president Celestin Nzeyimana has said.

The World ParaVolley has confirmed that the 2016 Intercontinental and World ParaVolley will be held in Hangzhou City, China.

With Africa’s two slots already taken by Egypt (men) and Rwanda (women), the event will be the final opportunity for one men’s and one women’s team from other continents to qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympics Games.

Nzeyimana said, "This is another step forward for our team; it sets us up well for the next stage.  The Intercontinental event is going to help us to prepare well ahead of the Paralympic Games,”

It is also a chance for the already qualified teams to gain some last-minute experience leading up to the Games. The last Intercontinental Championship was held in Egypt, and attracted 19 teams.

Before the end of the year, Rwanda women’s team will play warm up games against China, United States of America and Germany.

Under coach Peter Karreman, Rwanda qualified for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after edging Egypt 3-2 in the final of Paravolley Africa Championship staged in Kigali last week, while for the men’s category, Egypt defeated Rwanda 3-2.