By Emmerson Campbell
The lawns of Castellani House provided a fittingly elegant backdrop for the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) Annual Awards Ceremony, held on Thursday night. The event celebrated the nation’s finest athletes, administrators, and contributors to sports for the year 2023.
The red carpet was rolled out for the country’s top performers, with Olympic sprinters Emanuel Archibald and Jasmine Abrams clinching the coveted Senior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year titles, respectively. Their accomplishments in athletics highlighted a year of extraordinary achievement across various sporting disciplines.
Award Winners
The night saw a diverse array of talent being recognized across multiple categories. Below is the full list of awardees:
Athlete Awards
• Senior Sportsman-of-the-Year: Emanuel Archibald (Athletics)
Runner-up: Dominic Tyrell (Powerlifting)
• Senior Sportswoman-of-the-Year: Jasmine Abrams (Athletics)
Runner-up: Jessica Calender (Chess)
• Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year: Raekwon Noel (Swimming)
Runner-up: Malachi Austin (Athletics)
• Junior Sportswoman-of-the-Year: Tianna Springer (Athletics)
Runner-up: Kataleya Sam (Chess)
• Sportsman (PWD): Uttamkumar Isurdeen
• Sportswoman (PWD): Anya Lall (Chess)
Coaching and Team Awards
• Male Coach-of-the-Year: Mark Scott (Athletics)
• Female Coach-of-the-Year: Tremayne Smartt (Cricket)
• Team-of-the-Year: Youth Commonwealth 4x400m Mixed Relay Team (Athletics)
Administrative Awards
• Association-of-the-Year: Athletics Association of Guyana
• Male Sport Official-of-the-Year: Reon King (Cricket)
• Female Sport Official-of-the-Year: Kenisha Headley (Athletics)
Media and Corporate Contributions
• Sport Journalist (Print): Jemima Holmes (Guyana Times)
• Sport Journalist (Broadcast): Avenash Ramzan (News Room)
• Sport Journalist (Non-Print): Akeem Greene (News Room)
• Corporate Sponsor (Small): Trophy Stall
• Corporate Sponsor (Medium): MVP Sports
• Corporate Sponsor (Large): ENet
Special Honors
• Posthumous Award: Terence Poole, M.S.
• Special Award for Service in Sport Journalism (Over 25 Years):
• Claude David (Kaieteur News)
• Donald Duff (Stabroek News)
• Leon Horatio (Guyana Chronicle)
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Celebrating Excellence
The evening underscored the depth and diversity of talent in Guyana’s sporting landscape. From athletics to chess, swimming, cricket, and journalism, the event highlighted the dedication of athletes, coaches, and administrators who propelled Guyana’s sports scene forward in 2023.
Emanuel Archibald and Jasmine Abrams’ victories as Senior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year were testaments to their hard work and consistency on the international stage. Meanwhile, awards for junior athletes like Raekwon Noel and Tianna Springer signalled a bright future for sports in the nation.
Corporate sponsors, whose contributions are integral to the development of sports, were also acknowledged, with companies like ENet and MVP Sports receiving accolades for their support.
Looking Ahead
The National Sports Commission’s Annual Awards Ceremony not only celebrated 2023’s achievements but also set the tone for future excellence. With the spotlight on these outstanding individuals and organizations, the stage is set for even greater accomplishments in 2024.
As the curtains fell on the night’s proceedings, one thing was clear: Guyana’s sports sector continues to thrive, driven by passion, commitment, and an enduring love for competition.
