Pool ABrazil, Ukraine, Russia, Canada

Pool BChina, USA, Iran, Rwanda

Rwanda will be Africa’s sole representative in the women sitting v-ball team category at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games scheduled for September 9-18 at the Riocentro Pavilion 6 in Brazil.

It will be the fourth time; the women’s sitting volleyball event will be contested and the first time Africa is sending a women sitting volleyball team to the Paralympics.

As hosts, Rwanda made history at the ParaVolley Africa Sitting Volleyball Championships in July last year, coming from behind to beat Egypt 3-2 in the gold-medal match.

With that historic win, Rwanda qualified as Africa’s sole representative at the Summer Games. This achievement saw Rwanda ranked No. 3 in the International Paralympics Committee’s Top 50 Moments of the year 2015.

Following their qualification, the women’s team has since intensified their preparations including weekly workouts as well as competing in international tournaments.

The relatively new team will have to work hard to impress at their debut. However, the Rwandan ladies will face a daunting test after the International Paralympic Committee confirmed the two pools for the eight nations that qualified with Rwanda in group B alongside the top two ranked teams, China (1) and USA (2) as well as Iran.

The highlight of the opening round in the competition will be the Pool B contest between two power houses– China and the US.

The two sides have played out the gold medal match at the last two Paralympic Games with world champions China coming top on both occasions.

Hosts and world No.4 side Brazil are in Pool A together with Ukraine, which is ranked number 3 in the current world rankings. Paravolley American Games bronze medalists Canada and Russia make-up the rest of the Pool.

A look at the eight teams:

Pool A

Brazil

Ranked number four in the world, the hosts did not have to pass through the qualification path--Brazil won the 2015 Parapan American Games, an achievement that would still qualify them to the forthcoming Games, had they not been the hosts.

They will be among the favourites by virtue of home advantage, though they face stiff competition from the likes of China, USA and Ukraine.

Ukraine

The Eastern Europe nation is ranked third in the world rankings, behind China and USA, and will feature in the Paralympic Games. The 2015 Para Volley Europe champions will battle it out with Russia that they defeated in the final at the European Championship in a five set thriller.

Russia

Russia is currently ranked eighth and after the disappointing failure to qualify through the Para Volley European championship, they qualified as the 2016 Intercontinental Non-qualified teams champions, a tournament which took place in the Chinese city of Huzhou in March this year. 

The Russian women faced the Netherlands in the final which they won in straight sets 3-0 (30-28, 25-22, 25-10).

Canada

Canada probably is the luckiest team to battle it for the top podium among the eight teams. Ranked in the 14th position worldwide, Canada will be in Rio as the 2015 Paravolley American Games Bronze medalist. This is because gold medalist Brazil is hosts while Silver medalist USA qualified via the 2014 World Championships.

Pool B

China

This is undoubtedly the most complicated pool as mentioned earlier as it accommodates the two top nations in the world.

World number one, China qualified as the gold medalist during the 2014 World Championships in Elblag, Poland after defeating USA 3-2 in the final. The two archrivals will be favourites to contest for the gold match.

USA

USA qualified as silver medalist in the 2014 World Championships. In one their closest games yet with rivals China, USA won the first set 25-23 before the Chinese leveled in the second 25-22.

USA then took control in the third set, winning it 25-19. Just when it looked like the London 2012 silver medalists would finally break China’s dominance of the sport, the Asian giants hit back with a 25-21 in the fourth set.

With the pressure mounting on both sides, China reorganized and won the match 17-15 in fifth set, to successfully defend their world title.

Iran

The former Persian Empire Islamic state ranks number nine in the world, and will compete in the Rio Paralympic Games as the 2015 Para Volley Asia-Ocenia silver medalist, behind Gold medalists China.

Rwanda

Rwanda is the second last among the eight teams, standing in the 13th position in the world, one slot ahead of 14th-ranked Canada.

Debutants Rwanda are the 2015 Para Volley Africa champions and will be the first African women sitting volleyball team at the Paralympics.

Rwanda squad:

Liliane Mukobwankawe, Beatha Nyinawabantu, Providence Nyirantungane, Solange Nyiraneza, Alice Musabyemariya, Carine Kwizera, Yvonne Imanishimwe, Claudine Murebwayire, Claudine Bazubagira, Ange Nyiranshimiyimana, Clementine Umutoni and Sandrine Nyirambarushimana.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw