MEDAL hopeful Theoneste Nsengimana makes his debut in the preliminary round of the 1500m T46 this afternoon on the third day of the 2012 London’s Paralympic Games at the Olympic stadium.Nsengimana qualified for the Paralympics when he defied odds in the Belfort Championship for the handicapped athletes stage in France in June, clocking 4.06.05 to finish second in the 1500m T46.The 23-year old went on to set up a new national record, beating the minimum qualification time of 4 minutes and 08 seconds required to compete at the London Games.Nsengimana, who alongside Hermas Muvunyi (400m and 800m T46), is Rwanda’s main hope for a Paralympic medal.He will be seeking to do well in today’s first round race and qualify for the final set for September 4.His coach Eric Karasira told Times Sport yesterday from London that both athletes are in good shape; though Nsengimana has been feeling some pain in his right leg, he believes he has what it takes to cruise into the final.“We have had good preparations which makes me confident about their (the two athletes) chances of doing well in their respective races. “Nsengimana will be the first to compete and I am optimistic that he will make it into the final,” Karasira said on phone.All Africa Games gold medalist Hermas Muvunyi will start his campaign in 400m and 800m next Tuesday and Thursday. Muvunyi was the only Rwandan to win gold medal in the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique last year.Rwanda last won a medal in their debut games in the 2004 Paralympic Games that took place in Athens-Greece when Jean Dieu Nkundabera won bronze in the T46 800m race.
