Jean de Dieu Nkundabera has embarked on residential training in preparation for next month’s Paralympics Games scheduled for September 6-17 in Beijing China. The Athens 2004 Paralympics bronze medalist will be Rwanda’s sole representative in Beijing after another favourite Hermas Muvunyi failed to qualify, nonetheless he (Muvunyi) will continue training alongside Nkundabera. Nkundabera, 27, shocked the world by finishing third in Athens in the men’s 800m T-46 in a time of 1:58.95 in a race win by Britain’s Danny Crates (1:57.89) while Algeria’s Samir Nouioua (1:58.71) took silver. National Paralympics Committee secretary general Celestine Nzeyimana confirmed the athlete’s training program which will include daily double training sessions for the month-long period under the guidance of his trainer Eric Karasira. His personal doctor Jean Piere Nkurayija also confirms the athlete’s physical health to be in the normal conditions favoring the countries lone representative to carry on with his normal training. “We are doing our best to prepare him for the Games. By giving him better preparation, a lot will be expected from him,” Nzeyimana stated. Nkundabera set the standards four years ago and he’ll be under intense pressure to try and repeat his heroics of Athens 2004. Ends
