Muvunyi wins Gold at Berlin Open Grand Prix

Hermas Cliff Muvunyi won a gold medal in the 1500mT-46 category during the Berlin Open Grand Prix that concluded on Sunday evening in Germany.

Monday, July 18, 2016
Muvunyi won Rwanda's first gold medal at the IPC World Championship in Nice, France, in 2013

Hermas Cliff Muvunyi won a gold medal in the 1500mT-46 category during the Berlin Open Grand Prix that concluded on Sunday evening in Germany.

The highly rated star who had earlier claimed a silver medal in the 400m after finishing second again did what he does best in 1500m race clocking four minutes and 14 seconds to claim a gold medal and his second medal of the day.

The APR athletic club athlete was using the competition to enhance his preparations for the 2016 Paralympic Games, slated for September 7-18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Rio, he will compete in both 400m and 1500m T-46 categories.

The former World champion has had a successful season, winning two medals at the 10th IPC Grand Prix de Tunis earlier in March with a gold in 400m and bronze in 1500m, both in T46 category and will now shift focus to the summer Paralympic Games.

Muvunyi was with 25-year old Jean Claude Ndayisenga who came short of qualifying for the Paralympics.

Ndayisenga, competing in the men’s 400m-T47 category, finished third clocking 55 seconds and 47 microseconds to claim a bronze medal, but missed out on the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT), also known as minima A, which is currently set at 50 seconds and 30 microseconds.

The two-day tournament had attracted top athletes from 51 countries to get a taste of what they can expect during the Rio Paralympics Games. Rwanda women sitting volleyball team will represent the African continent in Rio.