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Fiji Sports Awards

The Fiji Sports Awards first started in 2011 and was introduced by a partnership that involved the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, Fiji Sports Council and the Fiji National Sports Commission.

The awards are to recognise the contribution of athletes, administrators, journalists and photographers to sports in Fiji.

Manueli Tulo was blessed to be a nominee in the 2016 Fiji Sports Awards at the Vodafone Arena. The 26-year old was among the nine nominees for the Sportsman of the Year category alongside Vodafone Fijian 7s captain Osea Kolinisau who is the top contender for the award, Leslie Copeland(Athletics Fiji), Roy Krishna(Fiji Football),Epeli Baleibau(Fiji Paralympic), Joji Veremalua(Karate), Iakoba Taberanibou( Table Tennis) and Antonio Raturoba from Fiji Volleyball.

“For me personally I deserve to be nominated after everything I have done for the country last year. And to be nominated again in the Sportsman of the Year category is a blessing for me,”Tulo said.

“Last year every time I participate in competition I make sure to be good ambassador for the country and doing the country proud in my event.”

Earlier last year Tulo won gold in the men’s 56kg category at the 2016 Australian Open Weightlifting Championships in Chandler, Brisbane. He lifted 108kg in the Snatch and 134kg in the Clean and Jerk for a total of 242kg. He then participated in the Oceania Championships hosted at the Vodafone Arena and won gold after a 104kg lift in the Snatch and 127kg in Clean and Jerk with a Total of 231kg.

Tulo then participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics and was placed in 13th position after lifting a Total of 242kg.

“This was one of my best placing in any major international competition,” Tulo added.

Swimmer Matelita Buadromo, Judoka Tevita Takayawa, weightlifters like Maria Liku, Manueli Tulo and athletics Banuve Tabakaucoro and powerlifter Sainimili Turner are some names that have won awards.

11 category awards are for grabs and these include Coach of the Year, Administrator of the Year, Technical Official of the Year, Sports Photograph of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Sports Team of the Year, Young Sports Man and Woman as well as Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.

 

2016 Winners of the Awards:

  • Fiji Tattslotto Fiji Sportswoman of the Year

Winner: Mere Rodan (Table Tennis)

  • Fiji Tattslotto Fiji Sportsman of the Year

Winner: Osea Kolinisau (Rugby)

  • Fortech 2016 Young Female Athlete of the Year

Winner: Sally Yee (Table Tennis)

  • Powerade 2016 Young Male Athlete of the Year

Winner: Sitiveni Timi (Weightlifting) 

  • Metframe 2016 Sports Organisation of the Year

Winner: Weightlifting Fiji

  • SportsWorld’s 2016 Sports Team of the Year

Winner: Team Fiji Rugby Men’s Sevens team

  • OSEP Hanisi Visanti 2016 Administrator of the Year

Winner: Sikeli Tuinamuana (Weightlifting)

  • Paradise Beverages Technical Official of the Year

Winner: Naca Cawanibuka (Rugby)

  • Fiji Water Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Mereia Belo (Volleyball)

  • ANZ Coach of the Year

Winner: Ben Ryan (Rugby)

  • Tappoo Sports Photograph of the Year

Winner: Adi Nacola (Weightlifting)

 

Congratulations to all the winners!!

Source: SportsTG and FIJISunOnline