Yesterday

Rwanda 0-2 Australia

The national women’s beach volleyball team was yesterday eliminated from the ongoing Commonwealth Games after losing to Australia 2-0 in the quarterfinals. Denise Mutatsimpundu and Charlotte Nzayisenga, who were Rwanda’s representatives in the beach volleyball competition, were no match for the hosts who were dominant in both sets (21-9, 21-8).

Rwanda qualified for quarterfinals as second runners-up after coming back from two defeats to New Zealand and Vanuatu to beat Singapore.

Team coach Christophe Mudahinyuka said in an interview that although they failed to achieve their semifinal target, the players gained experience from playing against elite opposition.

"Playing against the best teams in the world, some of whom have professional players, has helped the team a lot and I am sure it will help us in the future," Mudahinyuka said. 

Rwanda is one of only two nations – Mozambique being the other – to be admitted to the Commonwealth group of nations that were not colonised by Britain. That process was completed in 2009, before the country made its Commonwealth Games debut in Delhi, India in 2010, but this was the first appearance of  Nzayisenga and Mutatsimpundu in the Games.  

The 21st edition of the international multi-sport event kicked off on April 4 and will run through April 15 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Paralympic Powerlifter Vedaste Niyonzima is out of the Games as well after finishing in ninth place out of 11 players that took part in the competition.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw