media_artricles :: 2015

Borel set to capture 4th award

The stage is set for the country’s biggest night of sporting honours with the hosting of the First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards 2014 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain, tonight.

Based on the achievements recorded over the past year, it was clear many of the top contenders already had the honour of being in winners’ row at various events which paid tribute to the success of T&T’s athletes.

Three-time Sportswoman of the Year Cleopatra Borel, two-time Sportsman of the Year Roger Daniel, Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott and Sportsman of the Year 2012, as well as Olympic bronze medal winner George Bovell, Sportsman of the Year 2004, are believed to be favourites for top honours.

Other athletes being touted as top contenders include: Kwesi Browne (cycling) Michael Alexander (amateur boxing), Christopher George (Judo), Dexter St Louis (table tennis) and Rheann Chung (table tennis) and Dr Dorian Alexander (taekwondo).

They would be among 50 athletes (30 men and 20 women) across 31 disciplines in contention for these awards.

Alexander (taekwondo), Browne, St Louis, George and Daniel earned bronze at the CAC Games in Veracruz, Mexico.

Chung earned her bronze at the ITTF Latin American Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic last April.

Borel, the internationally respected shot putter and Bovell copped gold at the championships.

At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Borel and javelin athlete, Walcott, both won silver. At that event, Walcott registered a new national record, too. Meanwhile, Alexander, the amateur boxer, earned bronze.

Daniel, the celebrated shooter, said being nominated meant, “I am a great athlete and I give thanks for being recognised for all the hard work I put out during the year. Since the London 2012 Olympics, I have matured in the sport tremendously. I am more driven to be successful. I have learnt to be very patient with my self-development in the sport.

“I have grown as an athlete even more now because I understood what it takes to be a world class athlete and my roles and functions if I am to be at the top in my sport.”

To be an effective ambassador for the sport, said Daniel, meant knowing he was representing a nation and not himself.

“You represent the people of the nation and as such when you’re out there on the circuit competing and you win, it gives you the greatest feeling. That is all the more reason why you have to conduct yourself in a manner that is a cut above the rest as an ambassador.

“My sport is not growing, but there are other aspects or disciplines associated with the sport that I would like to see get some more recognition like archery or bring back the paintball or even more air shooting events that can be allowed for all ages. There are such things, just that vision is needed: away with negatives and open up to positives,” he said.

Daniel added: “I don’t think it might be as popular, but we can get it to a level where people can enjoy and practice it and if they decide to venture further then we take them to the next level.”

The Nominees

AMATEUR BOXING
Michael Alexander

AUTOMOBILE SPORTS
Kristian Boodoosingh

BADMINTON
Alistair Espinoza
Nekeisha Blake

BODYBUILDING
Kelton Thomas
Vanessa Hill

CANOEING/KAYAKING
Satyam Maharaj
Keian Huggins

CHESS
Ryan Harper
Aditi Soondarsingh

CRICKET
Denesh Ramdin
Britney Cooper

CYCLING
Kwesi Browne

HOCKEY
Akim Toussaint
Alanna Lewis

FOOTBALL
Kevin Molino
Arin King

GOLF
Talin Rajendranath
Monifa Sealy

GYMNASTICS
William Albert
Marisa Dick

HORSERACING
Brian Boodramsingh

JUDO
Christopher George

KARATE
Zachary Alexander
Tamara Joseph

NETBALL
Joelisa Cooper

POWERBOAT RACING
Brent Branker

POWERLIFTING
Adrian Brown
Yolande McIntyre

RALLY
Craig Sumair

RUGBY
Agboola Silverthorn
Nicolette Pantor

SAILING
Andrew Lewis
Kelly-Ann Arrindell

SHOOTING
Roger Daniel

SQUASH
Colin Ramasra

SWIMMING
George Bovell III
Kristin Julien

TABLE TENNIS
Dexter St Louis
Rheann Chung

TAEKWONDO
Dorian Alexander

TARGET ARCHERY
Hasmath Ali
Neela Cezair

TENNIS
Yohansey Williams
Olivia Bennett

TRACK AND FIELD
Keshorn Walcott
Cleopatra Borel

TRIATHLON
Ancil Greene

VOLLEYBALL
Simon Blake
Channon Thompson

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