Paradise Beverages technical official of the year
An individual who has been an active technical official during 2017 having carried out officiating duties at competitions organized by their sport either locally or internationally showing evidence of the ability to interpret and execute rules in a manner that has benefitted their sport.
* Winner: Ernest Movick (Fiji Hockey Federation)
Judges felt this person ticked the right boxes to be the winner for this category. This was a difficult category to decide. However, the winner officiated at club, national, regional and international competitions. He officiated and won the official award at a World League event and also officiated at the Olympic Qualifiers for his sport.
Nominees:
* Archery — Ajay Ballu
* Athletics — Michael Khelan
* Fiji Football — Ravinesh Kumar
* Fiji Hockey — Ernest Movick
* Special Olympics — Nischal Karan
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn — He Canguang
* Fiji Tennis Association — Sachin Reddy
* Fiji Volleyball Federation — Apenisa Saukuru
* Weightlifting Fiji — Della Shaw Elder
Volunteer of the year
To acknowledge an individual’s outstanding voluntary work in the service of sports during 2017.
Kinisimere Ravai (Fiji Football Association). The judges had no hesitation in selecting this person. As a volunteer for her sport she helped organise development for children from age six.
She undertook volunteer work with the Fiji National Sports Commission, Ministry of Social Welfare and FASANOC’s Voices of the Athlete’s in conducting awareness sessions on social issues to various team Fiji athletes.
As well as communities at different sporting events. Along with this work, this person was able to compete and went on to win silver at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu.
Nominess:
* Athletics — Nemani Tukunia
* Fiji Football — Kinisimere Ravai
* Fiji Rugby — Commander Francis Kean
* Special Olympics — Molly Amon
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn — Prashil Sharma
* Fiji Table Tennis Association – Henry Yee
* Fiji Hockey — Astral Lockington
* Weightlifting Fiji — Christopher Yee
Fiji Water coach of the year
The individual made significant impact on the development and performance of athlete(s) having progressed throughout 2017 with their achievements.
* John McKee — National 15s Coach (Fiji Rugby Union)
The judges were unanimous in their decision after an excellent outing in 2017. This was a strong field category nominated by eight sports however, this coach and his team brought joy to Fijians world-wide by winning four out of five tests. The team took on Tier 1 Nations scalps and was ranked 9th in the world.
Nominees:
* Athletics — Leone Qumi
* Fiji Football — Ratu Marika Tavanavanua
* Fiji Rugby — John McKee
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn – Prabhat Prasad
* Fiji Table Tennis Association — Harvi Yee
* Fiji Volleyball — Todd Edwards
* Weightlifting Fiji — Henry Elder
Ministry of Youth and Sports — photograph of the year
Still Photograph only — for most outstanding sports photograph either published or unpublished during 2017.
“Meet the Green Machine” — Jonacani Lalakobau (The Fiji Times photographer)
The photograph captured the essence of sports that was able to tell its own story. The photographer had to be at the right place at the right time to capture this astounding action.
Nominees:
* Athletics Fiji — Eugene Vollmer
* Fiji Football — Anushil Kumar
* Fiji Football — Avikash Chand
* Fiji Live — Kunal Keshneel
* Fiji Sun — Peni Komaisavai
* Fiji Times — Atu Rasea
* Fiji Times — Jona Konataci
* Fiji Times — Jonacani Lalakobau
* Fiji Times — Jovesa Naisua
* Fiji Times — Rama
* Fiji Times — Sophie Ralulu
Oceania Sports Education Program (OSEP) Hanisi Visanti administrator of the year
The individual proved administrative strengths that advanced the goals of their sport during 2017.
* Robin Dayal (Special Olympics Fiji)
A school teacher based in the remote highlands of Serua got the nod of the judges for his organisational skills, sacrifice with the 17 special schools and five inclusive schools of his organisation. He provided coaching assistance in athletics, football, netball and organised numerous outreach programs in Savusavu, Ba and Rabi. Facing adversity of limited resources, he helped organise a Pacific Region program in Fiji as well.
Nominees:
* Athletics — Eugene Vollmer
* Fiji Football — Rajesh Patel
* Special Olympics — Robin Dayal
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn — Shirish Chand
* Fiji Table Tennis Association — Anthony Ho
* Fiji Volleyball — Alex Edwards
* Weightlifting Fiji — Ritesh Ratiram
Sports World Team of the year
A sports team that recorded outstanding performances either locally or internationally in 2017.
* Flying Fijians (Fiji Rugby Union)
In 2017 the Tier 2 nation beat two Tier 1 nations, namely Scotland and Italy. The team qualified on merit for the 2019 Rugby World Cup defeating Pacific neighbours Tonga and Samoa.
Nominees:
* Athletics Fiji — Athletics Women’s 4 x 100m
* Fiji Hockey — Fiji Hockey women’s Team
* Fiji Rugby – Fiji Rugby Flying Fijians
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn — Nakasi Taekwondo Club
* Fiji Table Tennis Association — Fiji Para Table Tennis Team
* Weightlifting Fiji
* Commonwealth & Oceania — Championships Team
Tappoo sports oragnisation of the year
The sporting federation who has conducted their affairs in 2017 in a fair and transparent manner for the benefit of their membership. The federation should have a proven record of consistent participation from club to international level and demonstrated sustainable development programmes for their athletes at all levels.
Weightlifting Fiji
This organisation once again had another great year in 2017. It successfully conducted national competitions and excelled at regional and international platforms with outstanding results. It is one of the well managed organisations administratively with timely budgets and acquittals. They won the most medals for Fiji at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu and brought Fiji global recognition at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Nominees:
* Athletics Fiji
* Fiji Football Association
* Fiji Rugby Union
* Special Olympics Fiji
* Fiji Table Tennis Association
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Federation
* Weightlifting Fiji
Powerade young male athlete of the year
An individual male athlete, aged 16 years or younger as at December 31, 2017, who achieved outstanding results in 2017.
* Vicky Wu (Fiji Table Tennis Association)
This 12-year-old won local titles in his age category right up to U18 level. He is ranked No.3 in the National Fiji Men’s division and No.1 right up to U21. He won bronze at the Oceania Championships and Pacific Mini Games. At the 2017 China Cadet & Junior Open, he created history becoming the first player from Fiji to win against an opponent outside of Oceania, a top player from Thailand.
Nominees:
* Athletics Fiji — Kolinio Radrudru
* Fiji Table Tennis Association — Vicky Wu
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn — Huzaifa Abdur Rahman
Fortech young female athlete of the year
An individual female athlete, aged 16 years or younger as at 31st December 2016, who had achieved outstanding results in 2017.
Grace Yee (Fiji Table Tennis Association)
This 15-year-old is No.1 National Fiji Women’s player of 2017. She won bronze at the Oceania Championships, three medals at the Pacific Mini Games, and bronze at the 2017 China Cadet & Junior Open becoming the first from Oceania to win a medal. She defeated the No. 1 ranked Oceania player from Australia during the Oceania Youth Olympic qualifications and has secured herself a spot to the Youth Olympics.
Nominees:
* Athletics Fiji — Shawntell Lockinton
* Fiji Hockey — Lijiana Vueta
* Fiji Table Tennis Association — Grace Yee
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn — Tealaika Sameer
* Weightlifting Fiji — Maria Mareta
Fiji Tattslotto sportswoman of the year
An individual female athlete whose performance and achievement is ranked the highest by her sport at either local or international level throughout 2017.
Eileen Cikamatana (Weightlifting Fiji).
This athlete is by far one of the most successful athletes in her sport. She excelled in both her studies and sport. This athlete was recognised as the best junior lifter in four International competitions sanctioned by the International Federation. She is the number one ranked 90 kg athlete in the Commonwealth and Junior Athlete in the world. She won Gold at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Gold in the Commonwealth Championship, Gold at the French and Australian Championships in 2017 plus three gold medals at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu also setting a new Commonwealth Games record in the clean and jerk event.
Nominees:
* Athletics Fiji — Miriama Senokonoko
* Fiji Hockey — Lala Ravatu
* Fiji Judo — Shanice Takayawa
* Fiji Rugby — Ana Maria Roqica
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn — Aliyah Zareena Valentine
* Fiji Table Tennis Association — Merewalesi Roden
* Fiji Volleyball Federation — Laite Nima
* Weightlifting Fiji — Eileen Cikamatana
Fiji Tattslotto sportsman of the year
An individual male athlete whose performance and achievement is ranked the highest by his sport at either local or international level throughout 2017.
* Leone Nakarawa (Fiji Rugby Union)
This athlete was hailed as one of the world’s best players in Europe. According to his nomination he was rated the best player in 2017 by a popular sport’s news website and was a key member of the Flying Fijians Rugby Team.
Nominees:
* Athletics Fiji — Malakai Kaiwalu
* Fiji Hockey — Hector Smith Jnr
* Fiji Judo — Tevita Takayawa
* Fiji Paralympic Association — Iosefo Rakesa
* Fiji Rugby Union — Leone Nakarawa
* Fiji Swimming — Taichi Vakasama
* Asia Pacific Taekwondo Fedn — Adam Valentine
* Fiji Table Tennis Association — Iakoba Taberanibou
* Fiji Volleyball Federation — Inia Korowale
* Weightlifting Fiji — Manueli Tulo.
