Rwanda’s representatives at the upcoming Paris 2024 Paralympic Games have set their sights on securing medals for their country. The Paralympic Games are scheduled to commence on August 28 and conclude on September 8. The Rwandan delegation includes the Women’s National Sitting Volleyball Team and Emmanuel Niyibizi, a track and field athlete who will compete in the 1500-meter category. Speaking about their preparations, Liliane Mukobwankawe, the captain of the sitting volleyball team, expressed confidence in their readiness, highlighting their intensive training over the past month and a half. Our aim in France is to showcase significant progress as athletes participating in our third Paralympic Games. We are currently ranked fifth in the world, and we plan to demonstrate that growth on the global stage, she said. Rwanda faces a challenging path in the competition, grouped with higher-ranked teams such as Canada and Brazil, as well as Slovenia. These are strong teams, but we are not intimidated, Mukobwankawe said. She pointed out that the national team has shown significant improvement compared to their performances at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The team’s head coach, Dr. Mosaad Elauity, echoed this sentiment, affirming that the team has made tremendous progress and is poised to deliver impressive results in Paris. We are not going there just to play; we are going to compete. I believe we can achieve great results because the team has improved in all aspects. We won't make it easy for those top-ranked countries, he noted. Our long-term goal is the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, but what we achieve now will set the foundation for that. I know there will be mistakes due to the lack of friendly matches to iron them out, but we will do our best, he added. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Niyibizi, who will compete in the 1500-meter race, expressed confidence in his ability to secure a medal, citing his extensive study of his competitors. I have faith in my capabilities. Although I missed the Tokyo games, I believe I am in good shape now. I have studied every competitor, knowing their strengths and weaknesses,” he said. The Rwandan delegation will depart from Kigali on the night of Tuesday, August 13. In Sitting Volleyball, Rwanda will kick off their campaign against Brazil on August 29, followed by a match against Slovenia two days later, before concluding their Group B matches against Canada on September 3. Rwanda's lone Paralympic medal was won by Jean de Dieu Nkundabera, who claimed bronze in the 800-meter race at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
