NPC team aims high

Warm-up matchesMondayGreat Britain bt Rwanda 3-2 3-1August 19Great Britain vs RwandaRWANDA’s Paralympics team has vowed to challenge for medals when the London Paralympics Games start on August 29, and as a result improve the image of the country after yet another dismal showing at the Olympic Games.The team started a 13-day training camp in Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre in Beetons Way on Sunday and on Monday the Sitting volleyball team played the first of two warm-up games against host nation Great Britain, which Rwanda lost 2-0 (3-2, 3-1).The two teams will again face-off on August 19 before opening debutants Rwanda start their campaign against defending champions Iran on August 30.Rwanda will then take on Brazil on August 31 before winding up their Group B matches against China on September 2. Group A has hosts Great Britain, Morocco, Russia, Germany and Egypt.The Rwandan team to the 2012 Paralympics Games is made up of 14 athletes and six coaches and officials including the Rwandan sitting volleyball team (11), Hermas Muvunyi (400m and 800m), Théoneste Nsengimana (1,500m), and power-lifter Théogène Hakizimana (82.50kg).National Paralympics Committee boss Dominique Bizimana, who is also part of the Sitting volleyball team said, “We are very committed to doing well in London and also use the Games to promote the image of our country.”“We know all Sub-Saharan countries are waiting for our results and that all Rwandans will be behind their team,” he noted.Following miserable performances at just concluded able-bodies London Olympic Games where the country extended her Olympic medal draught, Bizimana admits the pressure is on the Paralympics team to redeem Rwanda’s fortunes.“Hopefully with our two athletes we are optimistic one or both can win a medal. The one in the 800 and 400m [Muvunyi] is very strong and I’m positive about his chances (of winning a medal),” he stated.Jean de Dieu Nkundabera won Rwanda’s first ever medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where he took bronze in the T46 men’s 800 metre race, with a time of 1:58.95.

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NPC team aims high