Judo puts Rwanda firmly on the African map

At the age of 21, Rukundo Sala is already a major figure in Rwanda's international image. Director of Development for the Rwandan Judo Federation, he travels to the continent's biggest tournaments in a bid to raise his country's flag.ays.

Léon Rukundo Sala, in his blue judogi, gives an impression of serenity as he steps onto the tatami. His opponent, Mohamed Touil, a 22-year-old Tunisian, gave signals to the contrary. In this repechage bout at the Tunis African Open, the outcome is certainly decisive for the rest of the competition, but for Léon, it takes on an entirely different importance. For the third time in his career, in an official match, he no longer represented a club, but a nation: Rwanda. His victory by ippon after a little over a minute - considered the best action of the day by the African Judo Union - was a great success.