Hakizimana hopeful on ticket to London Games

RWANDA’S 3000m steeplechase runner Gervais Hakizimana is assured of attaining the mimimum required qualification mark for the London’s Olympic Games before May, 2012. Hakizimana, who has just recovered from a hamstring injury, told Times Sport yesterday from his base in France that he is in good shape and has started training. According to Hakizimana, he is searching for minimum qualifications in 3000m steeplechase, 5000m and 10000m respectively. “I have lined up an intense competitive schedule and I hope by the end of it, I will have attained qualification requirements for next year’s Olympics,” said Hakizimana. The former national champions at 5000m noted that he is holding thorough preparations in a bid to compete in the various competitions on his scheduled. Those competitions include; Kenya’s cross country championship in Nairobi in January, 2012, 3000m indoor meeting in Lille in February, 3000m steeplechase meeting de Pezenas, France in April, and 10000m d’agen competition in USA in May. “It is possible for me to get minimum qualifications in these competitions. My coach (Plancke Philippe) has helped me a lot and I hope with his guidance, I will attain my dream,” said Hakizimana. With 2012 London Olympics just under a year away, Rwanda’s Olympic Committee vice president Elia Manirarora said recently, “We are doing our best to prepare the athletes who we believe can qualify and represent the country.” Eighty-five Rwandan athletes are competing in the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, in basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, athletics, boxing, tennis, table tennis, karate, swimming, cycling, tae-kwon-do and sport for the disabled, all of them searching for the qualification times. Only cyclist Adrien Niyonshuti has so far qualified for London Games. The 24-year-old South Africa-based rider finished fourth at the African Continental Championships in Stellenbosch in February. Ends

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Hakizimana hopeful on ticket to London Games