Eighteen national athletes have been selected to start intensive preparations for the upcoming 3rd African Youth Games scheduled to kick off 17-28 in the North African state of Algeria.
The selection was carried out over the weekend (10 June) at Amahoro National Stadium by the National Athletics body (RAF) under the observation of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC).
The junior athletes are supposed to bein non-residential training this week before reporting to camp later this month, according to RAF Secretary General Olivier Umutangana.
“The athletes are from 11 different clubs as well as different districts across the Nation. This is a great opportunity for the athletes to use this chance to shine thanks to Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee plus the Ministry of Sports and Culture for the support as well as positive work relations.”
He added that in athletics it is different from other sports disciplines because one might be the best in a road race but when it comes to an indoor stadium they are beaten, the reason is that they are not used to race on such an infrastructure.
“That is why the provisional selected athletes will have to be trained at Amahoro National Stadium since they will be competing at the similar ground in Algeria,” he pointed out.
Jean Pierre Ndacyayisenga, RAF Technical Director, was also part of the selection committee.
“The boys and girls are starting non-residential training this week before they enter camp in three weeks. From the eighteen, we shall yet again select the best for athletes to represent the country,”
The Africa Youth Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years. The 2nd African Youth Games took place in Gaborone, Botswana’s capital City from 22 to 31 May 2014.
Hermine E’GAIRMA, the RNOSC advisor and president of athlete’s commission at RNOSC also promised that the RNOSC will make a follow up on these athletes together with RAF and their respective clubs to make sure that they become future prospects for the Nation.
Apart from competing in athletics, Rwanda will also field representatives in beach volleyball and karate at the ten-day African Youth Games.
The multidiscipline competitions will double as qualifiers for this year’s Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October 6-18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Full provisional roster
Girls’ 3,000 meters: Agnes Ibishatse, Sandrine Mukamusana, and Dorothy Nayituriki
Boys 3,000 meters: Aime Frodite Bakunzi, Assel Nsengiyumva, and Jean Baptiste Niyomukiza
Girls’ 1,500 meters: Mediatrice Iradukunda, Christine Yamuragiye, and Nadine Mahoromeza
Boys’ 1,500 meters: Dieudonne Ugeziwe, Placide Byiringiro, and Gad Niyonkuru
Girls’ 800 meters: Belyse Nishimwe, Marthe Niyonkuru, and Delphine Uwuzuyimena
Boys’ 800 meters: Victoire Ingabire, Samson Ncunguyinka, and Uwumuremyi Olivier
At the 2014 edition of the Africa Youth Games held in Gaborone, Botswana, Rwanda was represented by a total of 49 athletes, 30 female and 19 male in 11 sports disciplines including; athletics, basketball (3 on 3), cycling, fencing, boxing, karate, lawn tennis, golf, taekwondo, table tennis and volleyball.
Rwandans settled for two bronze medals, one in boxing and one in girls’ volleyball.
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