Debutants Rwanda won eight medals to emerge best African team at the just concluded Hanmadang International Taekwondo Festival in South Korea.

The 24th Hanmadang Taekwondo Festival organized by World Taekwondo Headquarters also known as Kukkiwon was held from July 30 to August 2 in Pyeongtaek City, South Korea and it attracted 72 countries with over 6500 taekwondo martial artists.

The multi-category world Taekwondo Hanmadang is aimed at showcasing the essentials of martial arts such as breaking, self-defense and poomsae and is a contest held every year.

Team Rwanda claimed gold and trophy of excellence in showing taekwondo skills through cultural dance. The seven-athlete team danced to Intore Massamba’s song Nyaruguru.

Other medals came from Boniface Mbonigaba (one gold) and Zura Mushambokazi who won two gold medals. The 16-year old Benon Kayitare scooped two bronze medals with other two coming from team captain Regis Iyumva.

Other African countries represented included the Republic of South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Senegal, Egypt, Kenya and Tunisia.

The seven-member team coached by Master Joang Ji-Man left the country for South Korea on July 27 and will return on August 9 after undergoing a one week training camp with Korean experts, according to local federation officials.

In overall classification, hosts South Korea, Russia and the United States dominated the four-day world class competitions.

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