32nd Sports Awards of the Year |30 January 2016
Female high jumper Lissa Labiche, sailor Govinden crowned the best
Female high jumper Lissa Labiche has reclaimed the Sportswoman of the Year title she relinquished to weightlifter Clementina Agricole in 2013.
In fact, Labiche has succeeded Agricole who retained the title in 2014.
The Sportsman of the Year crown has gone to sailor Rodney Govinden.
The two best athletes of the year 2015 were decorated by Vice-President Danny Faure during last night’s 32nd Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony at the National Sports Council’s exhibition hall.
Swimmer Felicity Passon retained the Young Female Athlete of the Year title, while boxer Lorenzo Bonne succeeded fellow boxer Keven Kilindo as the Young Male Athlete of the Year.
Seychelles Nation presents short profiles of the top five chosen from the finalists in both the female and male categories.
Sailor Rodney Govinden – Sportsman of the Year
This is the first time sailor Rodney Govinden wins the Sportsman of the Year crown.
He is the second sailor to receive the prestigious award after four-time Olympian Allan Julie who has been crowned a record six times – in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2011.
The highlight of Govinden’s 2015 season was qualification for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5-21, 2016.
International competitions
. In the Laser standard class of the African Championship of Sailing in Algiers, Algeria, Govinden was second out of 10 sailors to take the silver medal to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
. Govinden won two medals – a gold in team racing and a silver in Laser standard – at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion.
Local competitions
. He won the National Championship
. Finished second in the Cascade Slipway Trophy
. Finished fifth in the Hunt Deltel Open Cup
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Windsurfer Jean-Marc Gardette – Runner-up
Like sailor Rodney Govinden, 31-year-old windsurfer Jean-Marc Gardette of Praslin qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games after claiming a bronze medal at the African RSX Championship which also served as an Olympic qualifier.
International competition
. Gardette finished third behind two Algerians in the windsurfing category and because a country is allowed only one qualifying spot, he took the second one and will defend Seychelles’ colours in Rio de Janeiro next year.
Local competitions
. He came out second in the Blue Waters Charters windsurfing cup
. He was third in the Sailfishing Charters cup
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Boxer Keddy Agnes – Third place finisher
Hard-hitter Keddy Agnes enjoyed a very good year 2015 as he won medals in two international competitions, but had to settle for third place overall.
International competitions
.He retained his gold medal won in Seychelles in 2011 by defeating Emmanuel Payet of Reunion in the +91kg weight category final at the ninth Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion
. He clinched a silver medal in the +91kg weight category after losing Nigerian Efe Ajagba on a 0-3 score in the final at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville
. He also made an appearance at the Strandja Memorial Tournament held in Sofia, Bulgaria.
National competitions
. Agnes was victorious in the Anse Etoile boxing tournament
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Badminton player Georgie Cupidon – Fourth place finisher
Crowned Sportsman of the Year twice – in 2006 and 2007 – Georgie Cupidon is the best male badminton player of the year 2015 after winning two bronze medals at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.
International competitions
. Bronze medallist at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville in the mixed doubles alongside Juliette Ah-Wan
. Bronze medallist at the All-Africa Games in the mixed team event along with Juliette Ah-Wan, Steve Malcouzane, Alisen Camille, Kervin Ghislain and Cynthia Course
. Winner of two bronze medals in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion
National competitions
. Winner of the men’s doubles event of the Closing Cup competition
. Silver medallist in the men’s doubles event of the Closing Cup competition
. Silver medallist in the men’s doubles event of the India-Day tournament
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Badminton player Steve Malcouzane – Fifth place finisher
Winner of the Sportsman of the Year title in 2009, Steve Malcouzane has taken fifth position overall.
International competitions
. He won a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville
. He won two bronze medals in ten men’s doubles and mixed team event at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion
National competitions
. He won the men’s singles events of both the Curtain-raiser and Seychelles-India Day tournaments
. He collected four silver medals in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles of the Curtain-raiser, men’s doubles of the Closing Cup and in the mixed doubles of the Seychelles-India Day tournament
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High jumper Lissa Labiche – Sportswoman of the Year
Chosen as Sportswoman of the Year in 2012, Lissa Labiche has once again been chosen as overall best female athlete after a great year both locally and on the international stage. The high jump specialist won a total of nine gold medals in international competitions, six in high jump.
International competitions
. High jump gold medallist at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville with a height of 1.91m,
. High jump (1.81m) gold medallist at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion 1.81m,
. High jump gold medallist at the Kenya National Championships in Nairobi with a height of 1.85m
. High jump gold medal at the Southern African Region Senior Championships in Mauritius with a height of 1.91m
. High jump gold medallist at the South Africa Open Championships in Potchefstroom with a height of 1.92m for a Seychelles record,
. High jump gold medallist at the Meeting de saint Denis in Reunion with a height of 1.86m
. Long jump gold medallist at the IOIG in Reunion with a distance of 6.27m
. Long jump gold medallist at the Botswana National Championship with a distance of 6.20m
. Cleared the bar at 1.89m at the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships in Beijing, China
National competitions
. She claimed first places in all competitions she took part in – National Championship (long jump 6.01m), National Junior Championships (as invitee long jump 5.64m), Open Season (long jump 5.68m), Special Events Final (high jump 1.75m and javelin throw 30.16m) and Special Events 1 (60m hurdles 9.34m).
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Badminton player Juliette Ah-Wan – Runner-up
Crowned Sportswoman of the Year in 2000 and 2007, badminton player Juliette Ah-Wan showed in 2015 that she remains a consistent player and finishing as runner-up overall proves that at 34 years old she still has a lot to offer if she does not decide to call it quit.
International competitions
. Gold medallist with cousin Alisen Camille in the women’s doubles at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville
. Bronze medallist in the mixed doubles with Georgie Cupidon as partner at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville
. Bronze medallists in the mixed team event along with Georgie Cupidon, Steve Malcouzane, Alisen Camille, Kervin Ghislain and Cynthia Course at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville
. Silver medallist in the women’s doubles events at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion
. Twice bronze medallists in the women’s singles and mixed team events at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion
National competitions…..
. She was victorious in the women’s singles event of the Curtain-raiser tournament
. Twice silver medallists in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events of the Curtain-raiser tournament
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Badminton player Alisen Camille – Third place finisher
Sportswoman of the Year 2011 Alisen Camille performed well in 2015 to win medals in two international competitions and finish third overall in the Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony.
International competitions
. Gold in the women’s doubles alongside cousin Juliette Ah-Wan at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville
. Bronze medallist in the mixed team event along with Georgie Cupidon, Steve Malcouzane, Ah-Wan, Kervin Ghislain and Cynthia Course at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville
. Winner of three silver medals in the women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed team events at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion
National competitions
. She won five gold medals in the Curtain-raiser, Seychelles-India Day tournament and Closing Cup
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Weightlifter Clementina Agricole – Fourth place finisher
Crowned Sportswoman of the Year in 2013 and 2014, Clementina Agricole could not make it a third win in a row and has had to settle for fourth place overall.
International competitions
. Silver medallist in clean & jerk (115kg) and two bronze medals in snatch (91kg) and total lift (206kg) at the All-Africa Games held in Congo, Brazzaville
. Winner of three gold medals in the 63kg weight category at the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Reunion – 91kg in snatch and 115kg in clean & jerk for a total lift of 206kg
. Ranked 26th out of 36 lifters with a total of 191kg (81kg in snatch and 110kg in clean-and-jerk) in the women’s 63kg weight class at the World Weightlifting Championships in Houston, United States of America,
National competitions
. Winner of the 63kg category at the Open Championship held at Bel Ombre with a performance of 88kg in snatch and 111kg in clean & jerk.
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Swimmer Alexus Laird – Fifth place finisher
Based in the United States and a member of the Carmel club, backstroke specialist Alexus Laird has become a household name when it comes to Seychelles swimming after some great performances since deciding to represent the country. Featuring among the finalists for the first time she has finished fifth overall.
International competitions
. 50m backstroke bronze medallist with a time of 30.07 seconds at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville
. Winner of three gold medals in the 50m backstroke (29.48 seconds), 100m backstroke (1:03.52) and 200m backstroke (2:20.79) at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion in Seychelles’ and Games’ record times
. Winner of two silver and two bronze medals at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion
. Took part in the Fina World Swimming Championship in Kazan, Russia
Compiled by G. G.