By Lauren Mattera 

Rwanda NPCJuly 18 - Rwanda has sent three athletes to Lyon to compete in its first International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships.

Hermas Muvunyi and Theoneste Nsengimana – the only two runners to represent the nation at the London 2012 Paralympics – along with Herni Kirwa have travelled to the French city for the event, which gets underway tomorrow, thanks to the work of the Rwanda National Paralympic Committee (NPC) through the IPC's Agitos Foundation.

Muvunyi, who was denied a bronze medal at London 2012 after being disqualified in the men's T46 800 metres final for pushing Kenya's Abraham Tarbei en-route to the finishing line, will be hoping to claim his title in the 400m event at the Stadium Parilly.

"I have one wish, win a medal and make a world record in 400m," Muvunyi said.

Hermas Muvunyi of Rwanda London 2012 ParalympicsHermas Muvunyi was disqualified at the London 2012 Paralympics for pushing Abraham Tarbei in the men's T46 800m final




























Nsengimana disappointingly failed to qualify in the men's T46 1,500m in London last summer but will race over the same distance in Lyon, while Kirwa will enter the men's 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon T12. 

The delegation arrived just after the African nation held its second national championships last weekend which will form the basis for future selection for the national team.

"In 100m and 200m there is hope to have some [athletes] in the international tournaments in the future, but in 800m we still have to improve more in training and as we have trainers who are trained for that, there is no doubt that what they learned will give us the best athletes in coming days," Eric Karasira, the secretary general of the Rwandan Paralympic Committee, said.

The three athletes will join 1,100 others from 98 nations for the sixth IPC Athletics World Championships, which began tomorrow and run until July 28.

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