LEONE NAKARAWA, EILEEN CIKAMATANA
SCOOP TOP FIJI SPORTS AWARDS
The man who is unofficially dubbed as the world’s best rugby player was last night crowned Fiji’s 2017 Sportsman of the Year.
Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor said they were proud of the achievements of Fiji Airways Flying Fijians lock forward and Olympian Leone Nakarawa. “Nakarawa fully deserves this award to be recognised,” O’Connor said.
“Nakarawa has come a long way, he is a real professional player, he is a good leader and can fit in either 7s or 15s rugby.
“From our side we see Nakarawa as the world’s best player.” Soon after the award, Nakarawa who hails from Mokoisa, Tavuki in Kadavu declared his availability to represent the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team to the Sevens Rugby World Cup in San Francisco, USA on July 20-22.
The keynote speech was delivered by the President Major General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote while the guest speaker was Fijian-born Wallaby winger Henry Speight.
EILEEN’S MOMENT
Sensational weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana was named the 2017 Sportswoman of the Year.
The young lifter who is based in Noumea, New Caledonia as part of her preparations for the Commonwealth Games is the country’s gold medal prospect.
She is recognised by the International Weightlifting Federation as the Best Junior Lifter in four international competitions. Cikamatana is the number one ranked 90kg athlete in the Commonwealth and junior athlete in the world. She won gold medals at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, Commonwealth Championship , French and Australian Championships in 2017 and 3 gold medals at last year’s Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu.
LIST OF WINNERS
Paradise Beverage Technical Official of the Year: Ernest Movick (Fiji Hockey)
Volunteer of the Year: Kinisimere
Ravai(Fiji Football)
Fiji Water Coach of the Year: John
McKee (Fiji Rugby) Ministry of Youth and Sports Sports Photograph of the Year; Jonacani Lalakobau (Fiji Times)
Oceania Sports Education Program (OSEP) Hanisi Visanti Administrator Of The Year: Robin Dayal( Special Olympics Fiji)
Sports World Team of the Year; Flying Fijians (Fiji Rugby)
TAPPOO Sports Organisation Of The Year: Weightlifting Fiji
Powerade Young Male Athlete Of The Year: Vicky Wu (Fiji Table Tennis)
Fortech Young Female Athlete Of The Year: Grace Yee (Fiji Table Tennis)
Fiji Tattslotto Sportswoman of the Year: Eileen Cikamatana (Weightlifting Fiji)
Fiji Tattslotto Sportsman of the Year: Leone Nakarawa (Fiji Rugby)