Mele Bizimana will carry Rwanda’s load when this year’s Africa Junior tennis Championship (AJC) gets underway in Botswana.

It has been confirmed that the 16-year-old will be Rwanda’s sole entrant in the championship after a disappointing show in the qualifiers that wrapped up last Saturday in Burundi. 

Rwanda secured three bronze medals to finish fifth in the six-day tournament that attracted nine countries.  Being the most experienced player on the team, Bizimana helped Rwanda to two bronze medals after finishing third in the U-16 boys’ singles category and teaming up well with Fils Ntakirutimana to a third spot finish in the doubles. It is the second time that Bizimana has qualified for the championships after making a debut appearance last year.

In 2007, Bizimana and Lyze Karenzi qualified for the championship following their sparkling performances in the qualifiers that were staged in Nairobi.  However, the pair failed to get its form going in the championship and was consequently eliminated in the first round.

The Africa Junior Championship which merges Africa’s finest youngsters is scheduled for March in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.
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