We lacked international experience, says taekwondo team coach

Rwanda national taekwondo team head coach, Allan Irene Bagire has said lack of international experience cost the team as it failed to clinch any medal at the just concluded Morocco International Open in Agadir. Aline Ndacyayisenga came closest to winning a medal for Rwanda. (File) The team of four (two men and two women) debuted in the tournament and managed to reach the quarter-finals in both categories. “We lacked maturity and experience in this competition because we were competing against top players from across the world,” Bagire told Times Sport. Bagire added that following this tournament, he believes Rwanda will qualify from next year’s Olympic Games qualifiers slated for February 13-14, 2016 in Morocco. He added, “We didn’t win any medals but we got valuable experience, which will be vital going into next year’s Olympic Games qualifiers. Some players like Ndacyayisenga and Mwemeza were making their international debuts, so it was a great opportunity for them to test themselves.” The team comprised of Regis Iyumva (U-58kg), Cedrick Mwemezi (U-68kg), Aline Ndacyayisenga (U-57kg) and Zura Mushambokazi (U-49kg). Iyumva reached the quarter-finals in his category after defeating a Tunisian and a Dutch before being eliminated by Jrad Oussama, who went on to win a gold medal while Mwemezi was eliminated in the first round by Dutchman Zabri Rafik, the number four-ranked player in the world. Ndacyayisenga defeated Danish and Moroccan opponents in her first two matches and was one game way from claiming a bronze medal but lost to Canada’s Christense Louise. Mushambokazi suffered an early exit after losing to DR Congo’s Keleku Lukusa in the first round. The team returned in the country on Wednesday aboard Ethiopian airways and will immediately resume preparations for the next year’s Olympic Games qualifiers. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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We lacked international experience, says taekwondo team coach