Anticipation looms as nominees for National Sports awards revealed

The National Sports Commission (NSC) will on November 8 celebrate the achievements of Guyana’s finest athletes, coaches, and officials at its Annual National Sports Awards, where the country’s sporting excellence in 2024 will take center stage.

Following the review of submissions from national federations, the NSC’s committee, tasked with reviewing, deliberating, and selecting winners across all categories, recently concluded its assessment.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, commended the panel for ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection process that recognizes the very best of Guyana’s sporting talent.
Leading the spotlight this year is national footballer Omari Glasgow, Guyana’s all-time leading goal scorer, who headlines the nominees for Sportsman of the Year.
The 21-year-old, who has now tallied 21 goals in 33 international appearances, is joined on the shortlist by Bodybuilder Nicholas Albert, who captured his IFBB Pro Card in 2024, Paris 2024 Olympian Emanuel Archibald, and national cricketers Ashmead Nedd, Tevin Imlach and Kevlon Anderson who stood out in the West Indies Championships.
The race for Junior Sportsman of the Year features four promising stars, track athletes Kaidon Persaud and Malachi Austin, swimmer Raekwon Noel, and chess prodigy Sachin Pitamber, each having impressed on the regional and international stages.
In the women’s category, the Sportswoman of the Year nominees include two of Guyana’s top squash players, Nicholette Fernandes and Ashley Khalil who both excelled on the international stage during the review period, alongside Taekwondo athlete Ceili Peterson and bodybuilding sensation Rosanna Fung, who continues to elevate Guyana’s presence in global fitness arenas.
Meanwhile, Junior Sportswoman of the Year nominee Athaleyha Hinckson stands out after claiming Guyana’s first-ever gold medal in the CARIFTA Games U17 women’s 100M.
She faces competition from fellow track standout Tianna Springer, the CARIFTA 400m champion, among other rising stars.
In the Coach of the Year category, Julian Edmonds, the coach for both Austin and Hinckson at the Running Brave Track Club, will go up against West Indies Championships- winning Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) gaffer Ryan Hercules and Joseph “Bill” Wilson of the Guyana Defence Force Football Club, each having played instrumental roles in their athletes’ success.
The Association of the Year will be contested by four of Guyana’s most proactive governing bodies, the Guyana Basketball Federation, Guyana Chess Association, Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, and the Guyana Golf Association.
For the Sports Official of the Year, the male nominees include GBF president Michael Singh, FIFA referee Shavin Greene, Vidish Sookram (bodybuilding), and Kerwyn Johnson, while Natasha George, Denisha Isaacs, and Aileen Bowman-Joseph lead the female category.
The Media Awards will see this publication’s Jemima Holmes, Rawle Toney (Kaieteur News), Michaelangelo Jacobus (Stabroek News), Akeem Greene (Newsroom), and Eric Collymore (NCN) recognized for their outstanding coverage and promotion of sports throughout 2024.
Meanwhile, NAMILCO, Ansa McAl, Enet, Bluewater Shipping, MVP, ExxonMobil, Trophy Stall, and Sublime Security have all been shortlisted for Corporate Sponsor of the Year, acknowledging their significant investment in local sport.
As anticipation builds for November 8, Ninvalle emphasized that the ceremony will not only celebrate athletic success but also recognize the dedication, discipline, and unity that continue to drive Guyana’s sporting development forward.