Muvunyi sets sights on Paralympic Games

Despite a disappointing performance at the ongoing IPC Athletics World Championships, Rwandan Paralympian Hermas Cliff Muvunyi now has his eyes set on the biggest prize at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Brazil. The7th World Championships started on October 22 and will run through October 31 at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar. The sixth edition was held in Lyon France two years ago while the next edition will be hosted in London in 2017. Muvunyi claimed gold in Men’s T46 800m category on his debut in Lyon, but although he failed repeat the heroics of 2015, he still managed to qualify for the 2016 Paralympic Game both in 400m and 1500m and his dream is to win a medal in Rio de Janeiro. “I was disappointed not to win any medal in Doha, but that is history now, but lucky enough I earned minima for Paralympic Games which was part of my targets,” he told Times Sport on Wednesday. Muvunyi, who won gold in the Men’s 400m T46 category at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville last month, added that, “I have to pick myself up quickly and start preparations for next year’s Paralympics Games, and my dream is to win a medal.” The 27-year-old attributed his failure to win a medal in Doha to “fatigue” from the All Africa Games, but most importantly the “hot weather and tight schedule.” In Doha, Rwanda was represented by Muvunyi and 21-year-old debutant Jean Claude Ndayisenga. The later was only racing in Men’s T46 400m category where he clocked 53:00 to finish sixth in semi-finals, hence failing to get a ticket to finals and qualification to the Paralympics Games. The APR athletics club runner, Muvunyi, used 50:47 to finish second in semi-finals before hitting 49:79 to finish sixth in final behind American Hart Jakuvis (48:17), Hudson Shane (48:48) from Jamaica and Russia’s bronze medalist Alexey Kotlov, who clocked 48:92. Making his debut in 1500m at the global stage, Muvunyi fell short of a bronze medal by microseconds to finish fourth in 4 minutes and 7 seconds. The three-man delegation that also included trainer Eric Karasira, returned home on Tuesday afternoon. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Muvunyi sets sights on Paralympic Games