Kigali — Team Rwanda is prepared to stage a successful maiden participation in this year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India from October 3 -14.

Rwanda which will send a huge delegation comprising of over 60 athletes in Cycling, athletics, swimming, boxing, and table tennis, tennis and Para sport athletes goes into residential training on September 9. The Executive Director of Rwanda Olympic Committee Thierry Ntwali said recently that they have prepared a strong team which goes to Delhi for silverware.

"Our main intention is to go to Delhi and win medals. This will be our maiden participation in the Games and I believe we have a lot at stake to offer against regional power house like Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania who have been regular participants in the Games," said Ntwali.

Some of the members of the team that have been named include members from the cycling team namely; Adrien Niyonshuti, who is currently contracted by one of South Africa's top cycling clubs MTN Energade, four-time Tour of Rwanda champion Abraham Ruhumuriza, Nathan Byukusenge, Nicodem Habiyambere, Gasore Hategeka and Obed Ruvogera.

In the athletics, marathon runners that this reporter managed to get ahead of the official. The trio of Dieudonne Disi, Rashid Safari and Gervais Nizeyimana will compete in the full marathon (42.1km) category while two-time Olympian Epiphanie Nyirabarame will also be available for the women full marathon.

According to the officials, the official team will be named on September 9 as they start residential training. Rwanda is among 71 countries that compose the Commonwealth Games Federation which will take part in this year's Commonwealth Games.

Rwanda was admitted into the Commonwealth Games Federation mid January, 2010 after the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) executive board approved her application which will be subjected to formal ratification by the CGF General Assembly days before the Commonwealth Games kick off.

Delhi, won the right to host the 2010 Games after defeating the Canadian city of Hamilton by 46 votes to 22 at the CGF General Assembly held in Montego Bay in November 2003.