The national taekwondo team has stepped up preparations ahead of the forthcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers set for February 5-7 in Agadir, Morocco. The team is training from Amahoro Indoor stadium.

The national team captain Regis Iyumva will compete in the U-58kg category and Aline Ndacyayisenga in the women’s U-57kgs category—the duo began daily preparations last month alongside 10 other national team players under the close eye of national team head coach Allan Irene Bagire.

"Preparations are going on pretty well with 3-hour sessions daily, and surely there are noticeable improvements in tactics, weight reducing and game reading which are crucial in such a stiff competition,” Bagire said.

He noted that both players were privileged to have a one-week training camp in Paris with the French national team in November before competing in Morocco International Open to improve their exposure ahead of the qualifiers.

Bagire noted that, "I feel optimistic of securing the Rio Olympic games ticket because our performance in Morocco open which attracted over 30 countries motivated us, and also given the progress we have made in training.”

In Morocco International Open, Iyumva reached the quarter-finals in his category after defeating a Tunisian and a Dutch before being eliminated by Jrad Oussama, who went on to win a gold medal while Ndacyayisenga defeated Danish and Moroccan opponents in her first two matches.

Ndacyayisenga was one game away from claiming a bronze medal, but lost to Canada’s Christense Louise. To qualify for Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a player has to win a gold or silver medal in the qualifiers.

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