The women’s national sitting volleyball team departed Kigali for Japan Saturday afternoon, August 14, where they will compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The rescheduled Paralympic Games, which initially due last year but were postponed due to Covid-19, will run from August 24 to September 5 in the Japanese capital.

This year’s games mark the 16th edition of the world’s biggest sporting event for athletes with disabilities.

In the women’s sitting volleyball, Rwanda has been drawn in Pool B against USA, China and Russia. It is the second consecutive time that Rwanda is representing Africa in women’s sitting volleyball.

In 2016, Rwanda became the first Sub-Saharan women’s team in history, in any sport, to compete at the Paralympic Games at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

At the 2020 games, at least 4,400 athletes will participate in 22 disciplines.

Besides sitting volleyball, Rwanda will also be represented in athletics, by Hermas Muvunyi, and in shot-put by woman athlete Claudine Uwitije.

Sitting volleyball team squad: Claudine Bazubagira, Carine Kwizera, Liliane Mukobwankawe, Alice Musabyemariya, Sandrine Nyirambarushimana, Solange Nyiraneza, Agnès Nyiranshimiyimana, Claudine Murebwayire, Clementine Umutoni, Hosiana Mulisa, Chantal Mutuyimana and Louise Mugirwanake.