Sitting Volleyball: Women team begin bid for ticket to Tokyo 2020

Sunday Egypt vs Kenya - 9 am Rwanda vs Kenya - 3 pm Rwanda vs Egypt - 8 pm Liliane Mukobwankabo, the captain of the women national sitting volleyball team, has said that she and her teammates are ready to give their ‘very best’ in a bid to retain the African ParaVolley Championship as the competition gets underway at Amahoro Stadium today. The hosts and two-time reigning African champions, Rwanda, begin the quest for their title defense against Kenya at 3 pm, before taking on challengers Egypt tonight, starting at 8 pm. Winners of the showpiece will automatically secure a ticket to represent Africa at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. Following the withdrawal of Zimbabwe at the last minute, the tournament was left with only three countries in contention for the Tokyo 2020 ticket. The three teams will face each other twice in a round-robin format before determining the best two to meet in Tuesday’s final. “We have a good level of commitment and confidence in our quest, everyone on the team is ready for the challenge. Ultimately we want to retain the title and qualify for Paralympics again,” Mukobwankabo told Sunday Sport on Saturday. “We are facing two strong teams in our title defense, we won’t take any chances in any match.” At the continental tournament’s 2015 edition, which was also held in Kigali, Rwanda beat Egypt in the final to become Africa’s first women sitting volleyball team to feature at the Paralympics during the 2016 Rio Games. Men’s team named In the meantime, Rwanda has vowed to dethrone Egypt when the men’s tournament gets underway on Thursday after the latter beat Rwanda in 2015 final. The 12-player team embarked on residential camp Friday, at Five to Five Hotel in Remera, and train daily at Amahoro Stadium ahead of their opener against Kenya. The hosts have been placed in the same pool with Kenya and Morocco, while the other group comprises Egypt, South Africa, and Algeria. After Thursday’s clash against Kenya, Rwanda will take on Morocco the following day, before knock-out stages start with semi-finals on September 21. The final will be held the next day, with all matches played at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. Women’s team Claudine Bazubagira, Carine Kwizera, Liliane Mukobwankawe, Alice Musabyemariya, Sandrine Nyirambarushimana, Solange Nyiraneza, Agnès Nyiranshimiyimana, Claudine Murebwayire, Clémentine Umutoni, Chantal Mutuyimana, Louise Mugirwanake, and Providence Nyirintungane. Men’s squad Dominique Bizimana, Jean-Baptiste Ndayisaba, Callixte Twagirayezu, Fidèle Gatete, Fulgence Hagenimana, Jean Semana, Jean-Claude Ndahiro, Innocent Niyitegeka, Baptiste Murema, Emile Cadet Vuningabo, Jean-Bosco Ngizwenimana, and Callixte Nzeyimana. editor@newtimesrwanda.com

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Sitting Volleyball: Women team begin bid for ticket to Tokyo 2020