This year’s Taekwondo Genocide Memorial Tournament will be contested by 120 participants from four regional countries. Times Sport has learnt. Organised every year since its maiden edition in 2014, the tournament is in honour of the sportsmen and women that passed on during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The fifth edition of Taekwondo Genocide Memorial Tournament will attract taekwondo martial artists from hosts Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The multi-category one-day event is scheduled for June 9 in Rubavu district, Western Province. According to Rwanda Taekwondo Federation’s president, Placide Bagabo, all the federations in these countries have confirmed their participation but are yet to reveal their representatives. “Six Rwandan teams and four foreign teams will be part of the competition. However, we are yet to know the guest players. Participants will compete in two age and gender categories; boys and girls in junior category and senior men and women.” Bagabo told Times Sport on Wednesday. The former national team captain also revealed that all the teams and individual players are requested to report to Rubavu on June 8, on the eve of the competition. Bagabo also noted that, “After the memorial tournament, the attention will be switched to preparations for the Ambassador’s Cup in September and Gorilla Open the following month. From the two competitions, a technical team will select the best for the 2019 international competitions.” Taekwondo is one of the sporting disciplines that were introduced in the country after the Genocide. Competitive taekwondo was initiated in the country in 2006 but it was not until 2011 that the Ministry of Sports officially recognised it. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
