Sports Awards of the Year 2015 crowning ceremony |01 February 2016

Govinden, Labiche claim top honours

Rodney Govinden and Lissa Labiche were crowned by Vice-President Danny Faure as Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year after they both had an amazing 2015 season, to deservedly lift the prestigious trophies.

Sailor Govinden was among the favourites to take home the trophy in a year when he was one of two Seychellois athletes to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In fact, it is the first time the 31-year-old wins such an honour and he was visibly pleased with the result.

“Well, I see that they have put the Olympic qualification high among the criteria and I’m very happy to win this award as this is always the dream for any athlete, especially after watching Allan Julie win it six times,” said Govinden.

He added: “I wasn’t expecting to win, so I was a bit shocked, but I do think my results are deserving of the title.”

Having seen sailing win the title for a seventh time, Govinden is urging others to also take up the sport as they can also eventually produce the same good performances as he has.

Praslinois windsurfer Jean-Marc Gardette, who has also booked a place at the 2016 Olympics, finished as the runner-up, while in third place was boxer Keddy Agnes who won a silver medal at the All-Africa Games and a gold at the Indian Ocean Island Games.

Fourth and fifth places were taken by badminton players Georgie Cupidon and Steve Malcouzane.

As for Labiche, it is the second time she receives the honour. The first was back in 2012 and upon hearing her named called, the high jump specialist was clearly in a celebratory mood after edging out badminton player Juliette Ah-Wan to the prize.

“I had a feeling I would win as I performed very well last year and proven that I could win the title again,” said Labiche.

She added: “The feeling this time is different as I had a bit of doubt as it was between Juliette and myself and I was a little nervous.”

She explained that her aim now is to qualify for the Olympics and is confident she can achieve the goal.

The highlights of Labiche’s seasons were the high jump gold medal at the All-Africa Games and the two gold medals won in high jump and long jump at the Indian Ocean Island Games.

Ah-Wan came in second place, with Alisen Camille third. The two cousins were gold medallists in the women’s doubles at the All-Africa Games. Crowned Sportswoman of the Year in 2013 and 2014, weightlifter Clementina Agricole finished fourth followed in fifth position by swimmer Alexus Laird.

Both winners were rewarded with R25,000 cash, a return ticket to any Air Seychelles destination in Business Class, a cup, certificate, a mobile phone and they will also be receiving R2,000 every month until December of this year.

In the young athletes’ category, it was boxer Lorenzo Bonne who was named Young Male Athlete of the Year, with swimmer Felicity Passon retaining the Young Female Athlete of the Year crown.

Bonne made history by winning Seychelles’ first ever medal – a bronze – at the Youth Commonwealth Games and deservedly won the award which he dedicated to his mother and sister.

“I am very happy as it is my first time and I always wanted to win it,” he said.

He added: “I want to thank my coach Rival Payet, who always told me that if I don’t do it now, I will never do it.”

High jumper Noris Brioche was second and judoka Nantenaina Finesse finished third.  They are both from Praslin.

Meanwhile, Passon, who is training overseas, was not present at the ceremony and it was her younger sister who picked up the award on her behalf.

Another high jumper, Natacha Chetty was second and basketballer Sarah Rose came third.

Other awards presented on the night were for the best primary school and that award went to Anse Aux Pins Primary. Anse Royale secondary were honoured as the best secondary school and the School of Visual Arts won that for the post-secondary institutions.

The award for the best coach went to Cuban jumps coach Carlos Sanchez Vizcaino, the best technical official is judo referee Ravi Valmont, and the best federation award has gone to the Seychelles Badminton Association.

Awards were also presented to Seychelles’ young talent of the year and that deservedly went to sensational young golfer Jaden Deltel while triathlete Nick Baldwin was honoured as the best professional athlete.

Prize money awarded to athletes who finish in the top five in the senior category and top three among the young athletes in the Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony have been increased.

According to the revision, the athletes chosen as Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year will each pocket R25,000 – a R10,000 increase compared to the previous reward which was R15,000.

The runners-up in the senior got R15,000, third place finishers R10,000, fourth place finishers R8,000 and fifth place getters R5,000. They each got a cup, a certificate and other prizes in kind.

Only the top three out of the five female and male finalists were rewarded this time in the young athletes category.

The winners got R7,000, runners-up R5,000 and third place finishers R3,000and other prizes in kind from Ben Imports.

All cash prizes were sponsored by Cable & Wireless, they will each get a certificate and a trophy.

Meanwhile, all athletes chosen as the best in their respective sports received a trophy, a certificate and R5,000.

S. N.