Some of the athletes who were selected to prepare for the Africa Youth Games
Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) has picked 18 athletes to start rigorous preparations ahead of the upcoming 3rd African Youth Games scheduled for June 17-28 in the North African state of Algeria.
According to Rwanda National Olympic and Sport Committee which is keenly monitoring all national teams which will represent the country at the games, the selection to pick the best athletes was held over the weekend at Amahoro National Stadium.
The junior athletes are supposed to be in 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 multi-discipline competitions will double as qualifiers for this year’s Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October 6-18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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.
Full provisional roster
Girls’ 3,000m: Agnes Ibishatse, Sandrine Mukamusana, and Dorothy Nayituriki
Boys 3,000m: Aime Frodite Bakunzi, Assel Nsengiyumva, and Jean Baptiste Niyomukiza
Girls’ 1,500m: Mediatrice Iradukunda, Christine Yamuragiye, and Nadine Mahoromeza
Boys’ 1,500m: Dieudonne Ugeziwe, Placide Byiringiro, and Gad Niyonkuru
Girls’ 800m: Belyse Nishimwe, Marthe Niyonkuru, and Delphine Uwuzuyimena
Boys’ 800m: Victoire Ingabire, Samson Ncunguyinka, and Uwumuremyi Olivier.
