Habiyambere turns attention to Commonwealth Youth Games

Rwanda’s international tennis youngster Ernest Habiyambere has turned his focus to the Commonwealth Youth Games slated for September 5-12 in Apia, Samoa Islands, after shining at a recent regional post-primary school competition.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Ernest Habiyambere will compete at the upcoming Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa. (Sam Ngendahimana)

Rwanda’s international tennis youngster Ernest Habiyambere has turned his focus to the Commonwealth Youth Games slated for September 5-12 in Apia, Samoa Islands, after shining at a recent regional post-primary school competition.

The 16-year old right-hander Habiyambere looks set to impress at the fifth edition of the quadrennial global Youth Games after successfully winning gold medals in the singles and doubles categories at the FEASSSA Games in Huye district, South Province.

Habiyambere overwhelmed Tanzania’s Martin Tumaine in straight sets 6-1, 6-0 to win the boys’ singles gold before partnering with Fabrice Tuyishime to beat compatriots David Uwimana and Etienne Niyigena in two sets 6-2, 6-3 to claim the doubles category.

Speaking to Times Sport  on Monday, the youngster said he was in a great shape ahead of the Youth Games, adding that his dream was winning a medal in Samoa.

"These Youth Games are a great opportunity for me to prove myself on the global scale, facing the best in the world is going to be a tough test but I’m ready, I am in good form,” Habiyambere said.

 The 2013 second runner-up at the African youth championships will represent the country alongside 15-year old Tuyishime at the week-long fifth Commonwealth Games, according to local tennis federation’s secretary general Valens Habimana.

All competitors in the Commonwealth Youth Games should range from a minimum of 14 and maximum of 18 years of age in the year of competition. This year’s events will see over 1000 athletes from 71 nations and territories take part.

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