Taekwondo team starts training camp in France

After Friday's terror attacks in Paris that forced the 11th Taekwondo Tournoi Internationale de Paris to be called off, Rwanda national team on Tuesday started a ten-day training camp alongside their French counterparts, which will run until November 26.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

After Friday’s terror attacks in Paris that forced the 11th Taekwondo Tournoi Internationale de Paris to be called off, Rwanda national team on Tuesday started a ten-day training camp alongside their French counterparts, which will run until November 26.

This was confirmed to Times Sport by the Rwanda Taekwondo Federation (RTF) secretary general, Placide Bagabo.

This year’s edition of the annual Tournoi Internationale de Paris was slated for November 14-15 but was cancelled hours before kick-off after a coordinated series of terror attacks in the French capital that claimed at least 129 lives, leaving at least 352 others injured.

"The tournament was called off for security reasons. However, we are not returning home immediately, we are having a (10-day) training camp with the France national team,” the former national team skipper said by phone from Paris. He added that, "This camp will help us prepare for the upcoming Morocco Open and Olympic Games qualifiers. Our players are a bit frustrated but safe and are ready for the residential camp.”

The team in Paris includes four elite players (two men and two women) namely; Regis Iyumva (U-58kg), Cedrick Mwemezi (U-68kg), Aline Ndacyayisenga (U-57kg) and Zura Mushambokazi (U-49kg).

Coached by Allan Irene Bagire, the team is also accompanied by Bagabo who is team manager. From Paris, the team will jet off to Moroccan coastal city of Agadir to participate in the Morocco International Taekwondo Open scheduled for November 27-29.

The Morocco International Taekwondo Open will help Rwanda to prepare for qualifiers of the 2016 Olympic Games also to be hosted in Morocco from February 13 to 14, 2016.