Taekwondo team turns focus to Genocide memorial tourney

After their continental triumph last week, the national taekwondo team has begun preparations for this year’s second edition of Genocide memorial taekwondo tournament scheduled for June 5 at Amahoro indoor Stadium. The team bagged a total of five bronze medals at their debut appearance in the continent’s biggest multinational Taekwondo African Senior Championship that ended last Sunday in the Egyptian city of Port Said. The tourney attracted 25 countries. Rwanda entered a total of nine players, including three girls and six boys, and managed to claim a total of five bronze medals from the two categories; Kyrogi 2 medals and Poomse 3 medals. “We have had some time to rest and refresh from the previous event (African Championship) which was a success and we hope to consolidate the winning spirit in this year’s memorial tournament,” said head Coach Allan Irene Bagire said. “This year we hope to have a good competition because it is going to be an international event with several countries participating and we want to win the tournament as well,” he added The four East African countries namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and DR Congo have confirmed to grace this year’s event after last year’s featured only local taekwondo clubs. Since 2014, the Ministry of Sports and Culture, and the Rwanda National Olympic Committee, have been encouraging national sports federations to organise memorial tournaments in honour of players, coaches, administrators and fans of their respective sports disciplines killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. editorial@newtimes.co.rw