National Taekwondo Championship starts today

THE national Taekwondo team will use today’s national championship to assess their level ahead of the upcoming Africa Taekwondo Championships set for November 22-25 in Kigali. National team coach Allan Irene Bagire said in a news conference on Thursday, “This is a chance for us to examine the level at which our team stands before hosting the Africa tournament due later this month.” He added, “We shall be facing opponents that have experience from across Africa so we need to prepare well so that we are ready and not caught off guard.” The 11-player Team Rwanda includes three females; Zura Mushambokazi, Diana Bisengo and teenager Daphine Uwababyeyi.The male players include; team captain Placide Bugabo(bantam, -63kg), Galiede Bimeyimana (finweight, -54kg), Regis Iyumva (flyweight, -58kg),Savio Nizeyimana (featherweight, -68kg), Patrick Nkwiro (lightweight, -74kg), Eric Nkurunziza (middleweight, -80kg), Egide Bamonyo (welterweight, -87kg), Patrick Kazungu (heavyweight, +87kg). Meanwhile today, the trio of Rwanda Taekwondo Federation’s technical director Martin Koonce, Korean Master Kim and national team coach Allan Irene Bagire will attempt top break 900 wooden boards in one hour in a bid to raise $11,000 as part of the $100,000 budget needed for upcoming Africa Taekwondo Championships. About 30 African countries of the 44 that are members of the Africa Taekwondo Union are expected to be in Kigali.The reigning African champions, Ivory Coast have pulled out of the event as they will be hosting the World Team Championships in Abidjan from November 28-30, just four days after the end of the African event. Rwanda was selected as the host nation for this event after Egypt pulled out following the unrest in the North African country.

Sports

National Taekwondo Championship starts today