ELEVEN Taekwondo players, including eight males and three females have started intensive training in preparation for the 2013 African Taekwondo Championships scheduled for November 22-25 in Kigali.

Rwanda will be making its first appearance at the continental championships. According to the local taekwondo federation Secretary General Placide Bagabo, the decision to take the players into early preparations is to make sure the team makes a memorable debut.

Africa’s biggest taekwondo tournament will be held at the Amahoro Indoor Stadium and National Paralympic Committee gymnasium.

Bugabo, who also competes in the Bantam weight (-63kgs) category, confirmed that the four-day event will attract over 250 competitors from 35 African countries.

He said, "Preparations for the tournament are going on pretty well and we hope we shall organise a very successful event.”

Bugabo said the team (Rwandan) has been in non-residential training for the last four weeks at Amahoro stadium.