Category: Awards

ICC Awards 2024
by Abhishek Shukla

ICC Awards 2024: Final Shortlists unveiled in men’s Test, Heyhoe Flint and Sobers categories

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed the final set of shortlists in the ICC Awards 2024, honouring the outstanding performers in Men’s Tests and in the overall categories; the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

Acknowledging the best overall men’s cricketer during the year, the nominees for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy include a heavyweight list of candidates.

Harry Brook produced fireworks in all formats during a memorable year on the international stage, lighting up England’s Test, ODI and T20I encounters with explosive hitting and boasting an average of over 50 in all three formats. His compatriot Joe Root earns a nomination following a scintillating year in the longest format, having struck more runs (1,556) and more centuries (six) than any other batter.

Another star performer at the peak of his powers in 2024 was India’s pace sensation, Jasprit Bumrah, who dominated batters in World Test Championship duels and inspired India’s surge to glory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June, clinching the Player of the Tournament with 15 wickets at a phenomenal average of 8.24.

The final name on the list for the coveted accolade is Australia all-rounder Travis Head. The top ranked Men’s T20I batter will be aiming to go one better than his nomination in the same category last year, after hitting almost 1,400 runs across all formats with trademark flair.

The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year sees Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapathu and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt nominated in their third category, after both captains were honoured on the ODI and T20I shortlists on Sunday.

Athapaththu was an inspirational leader for Sri Lanka, hitting over 1,100 runs during the year across formats, taking 30 wickets and famously guiding her team to an historic first Asia Cup success in front of their home crowd.

Leading batter in the ICC Women’s ODI Batter Rankings, Wolvaardt was at her sublime best in 2024, scoring over 1,500 runs in all formats, and led from the front as South Africa reached their second successive Women’s T20 World Cup final in the UAE.

Amelia Kerr was the principal architect of South Africa’s defeat in that final, and she is among the nominees for the Heyhoe Flint Trophy after another stellar year with bat and ball in which she hit 651 runs and took 43 wickets, not to mention her starring role in a record-breaking campaign as Player of the Tournament at the Women’s T20WC.

The final name in contention is Australia’s Annabel Sutherland. The 23-year-old wowed during a breakthrough year, hitting the fastest ever double-century in women’s Tests against South Africa in February and recording Player of the Series accolades in notable victories over India and New Zealand at the latter end of the year. She ends the year with 615 runs and 37 wickets.

Finally, the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year shortlist features a dazzling quartet, three of whom have been honoured on the shortlist for the Sobers Trophy.

Harry Brook hit 1,100 Test runs during the calendar year at an average of 55.00, and four centuries, including an unforgettable triple-hundred in England’s opening victory over Pakistan in Multan back in October. He shared a 454-run stand with Joe Root in that match, and his teammate celebrates back-to-back nominations in the Test category after a year in which he surpassed ICC Hall of Famer Sir Alastair Cook to become England’s all-time highest run-scorer in the longest format and seized back the number one spot in the ICC Men’s Test Batter Rankings.

Jasprit Bumrah is the lone bowler shortlisted with a sterling 71 wickets in Tests in 2024 – the highest of any bowler, at an average of 14.92. With electric spells coming against South Africa, England and Australia among his highlights, the top-ranked Test bowler spearheaded India’s attack with relentless pace, accuracy and threat.

Completing the lineup is Sri Lanka’s record-breaking batter Kamindu Mendis, who ends a breakthrough year with 1,049 runs at a phenomenal average of 74.92, and during which the 26-year-old also became the first batter to hit a half-century in each of his first eight Tests and the fastest batter in 75 years to reach 1,000 Test runs.

More information about each of the nominees can be found here on the ICC website.

Fans are now able to vote for their winners at www.icc-cricket.com/awards. Fan voting results will be combined with selections made by a prominent panel of international cricket media – the ICC Voting Academy – to identify the winner in each of the shortlisted categories.

The ICC Awards 2024 comprises 12 individual awards, with shortlists in nine categories having been revealed by the ICC between 28 and 30 December.

Shortlists were drawn up by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who selected the nominees according to on-field performances and overall achievements in international cricket throughout the calendar year.

Other categories which will be celebrated in the ICC Awards 2024 include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year and the ICC Umpire of the Year.

In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will be also decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs across men’s and women’s international cricket during the calendar year.

Winners of the ICC Awards 2024 will be announced in late January 2025.

ICC Awards 2024 – the complete shortlists

Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year; Harry Brook (ENG), Jasprit Bumrah (IND), Travis Head (AUS), Joe Root (ENG)

Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Amelia Kerr (NZ), Annabel Sutherland (AUS), Laura Wolvaardt (SA)

ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year; Harry Brook (ENG), Jasprit Bumrah (IND), Kamindu Mendis (SL), Joe Root (ENG)

ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year; Wanindu Hasaranga (SL), Kusal Mendis (SL), Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG), Sherfane Rutherford (WI)

ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Smriti Mandhana (IND), Annabel Sutherland (AUS), Laura Wolvaardt (SA)

ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Babar Azam (PAK), Travis Head (AUS), Sikandar Raza (ZIM), Arshdeep Singh (IND)

ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year; Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Amelia Kerr (NZ), Orla Prendergast (IRE), Laura Wolvaardt (SA)

ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year; Gus Atkinson (ENG), Saim Ayub (PAK), Shamar Joseph (WI), Kamindu Mendis (SL)

ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year; Annerie Dercksen (SA), Saskia Horley (SCO), Shreyanka Patil (IND), Freya Sargent (IRE)

by Abhishek Shukla

LANDMARK 25TH LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS TO BE STAGED IN MADRID

MADRID, February 7, 2024 – The 25th Laureus World Sports Awards, the most prestigious honours event in sport, will take place in Madrid on April 22.

The announcement was made today by José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Madrid, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid Region, along with Laureus Academy Members Raúl González and Alessandro Del Piero, at the Teatro Albéniz in the Spanish capital.

Many of the biggest names from the world of sport, past and present, will be in Madrid in April to honour the greatest sportsmen, sportswomen and teams from 2023. Each of the Winners will leave with a coveted Laureus Statuette, one of most recognisable symbols of excellence in sport.

The Awards Ceremony will take place at the Palacio de Cibeles, a remarkable structure designed by the prolific architect partnership of Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi. It is one of Madrid’s most iconic buildings.

This is the 25th year the Laureus World Sports Awards have been presented and where better than a Host Venue steeped in sporting greatness? The City and Region of Madrid is home to four La Liga football clubs and the World Rugby Sevens Series; the venue for the climax of cycling’s Vuelta a España; host to the Madrid Open, one of the most sought-after clay court titles of the tennis year; to golf’s Open de España; and to the Madrid Marathon.

In an exciting new development which confirms the stature of Madrid as a sporting super power, the Formula One Gran Premio d’España will be staged in Madrid from 2026, at a new circuit built around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre in the Barajas district.

Madrid now takes over the Laureus torch from Paris, the city which hosted last year’s Laureus World Sports Awards, where Winners included Lionel Messi, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Spain’s brilliant young tennis star Carlos Alcaraz. Nominees for this year’s Awards, in seven categories, will be announced on February 26.

The Laureus Awards will celebrate the most memorable sporting performances from last year; a year in which Madrid welcomed home the FIFA Women’s World Cup winners after victory in Australia. The Spain team, led by Aitana Bonmatí, lit up a tournament that was one of the highlights of an incredible year in sport.  

Also in 2023, Novak Djokovic moved to the front of tennis’s golden generation, only Alcaraz, in a thrilling Wimbledon final, keeping the world No.1 from a clean sweep of the four Grand Slams.

The World Athletics Championships featured showstopping performances from athletes such as Faith Kipyegon, Sha’Carri Richardson, Shericka Jackson, Mondo Duplantis and Noah Lyles. On the Formula One racetrack, Max Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing had a record-breaking season, securing both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships.

At the Rugby World Cup, Siya Kolisi recovered from injury to lead South Africa to rugby’s pinnacle once more.      

While this is the first time Madrid has hosted the Laureus World Sports Awards, it is the fifth time the event has been held in Spain, following Barcelona (2006, 2007) and Seville (2021 and 2022).  Spain has seen notable success at the Laureus Awards – and the country is ranked third in the total number of Winners.  

The Laureus World Sports Awards Show will also include the Laureus Sport for Good Award, which recognises an individual or organisation which has made a significant contribution to transforming the lives of children and young people through sport. As well as celebrating the very best in sport, Laureus is committed to showing what a difference sport can make in the world.

Madrid is an ideal place for anyone looking to participate in sport in a unique setting. The regional and local Government of Madrid works to improve the quality of life of its residents through sport. This is achieved via a close working relationship with the sporting federations of Madrid and there has been a marked increase over the years in the number of registered athletes. The objective is for sport to be available to everyone regardless of age and to become an integral part of all our lives.

The impact of the Awards is a key element to both the planning and delivery of the 2024 event. Working closely with both Host Partners, Madrid City Council and the Regional Government of Madrid, Laureus will bring the expertise and support of Laureus Sport for Good to leave a lasting legacy for the young people of the city and region of Madrid. More information will also follow around opportunities for the people of Madrid to get involved in the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards.

Raúl González Blanco is a Laureus World Sports Academy Member and captained his hometown team of Real Madrid for seven years during an iconic career. He said: “I can’t wait to welcome the Laureus family, our 2024 Nominees and the world’s media to Madrid for the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards. Since becoming an Academy Member in 2016, it has been an honour and an inspiration to be part of Laureus’s work around the world. The hardest part is voting for these wonderful Awards – but our 2024 winners couldn’t wish for a more beautiful and welcoming city in which to celebrate a memorable sporting year.”

José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, said: “The Laureus Awards is an unbeatable opportunity for the City of Madrid, because Madrid is one of the great world capitals of sport, both from the amateur point of view and from the point of view of professional sport and the staging of major world events. But just as important are the values represented by the Laureus Foundation: values of excellence, self-improvement, effort and sacrifice, with which a city like Madrid identifies.”

Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Region of Madrid,said: “Laureus is a very important event, it’s a sport event that all governments and countries welcome with great enthusiasm, since it brings with it the magic of sport, of competition and of spectacle. It is also a very special invitation for children and young people and for all those who love sport.”

Sean Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: “It’s incredible to think that this will be the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards. Since I stood alongside our founding Patron Nelson Mandela and my fellow founding Academy Members in 2000, this event has become the greatest celebration of sport in the world. The Laureus stage has welcomed the greatest athletes of the 21st Century and it has also consistently amplified our message – that sport has the power to change the world. We are thrilled to be celebrating our 25th Awards in the beautiful, historic and truly global sporting location of Madrid.”

Italian football legend and Laureus Academy Member Alessandro Del Piero said: “I would like to thank José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Madrid, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Region of Madrid, for being with us and for the support of Madrid in becoming Host Venue for Laureus 2024. The Awards Ceremony is one of the most significant moments in world sport, where we honour the crème de la crème each year. I cannot think of anywhere better to be than Madrid – it is a city whose heartbeat is sport.”

Since its inception, Laureus has helped to improve the lives of more than six and a half million children and young adults, and now supports more than 300 sports-based community programmes around the world, fulfilling the visionary words of its founding Patron Nelson Mandela – ‘Sport has the power to change the world’.

The Laureus Family spreads across every continent and is an inspirational, purpose-focused network of Laureus World Sports Academy Members, Ambassadors, sportsmen and women, teams, sports governing bodies, federations and followers from the public, all committed to supporting Sport for Good and spread the movement’s influence to a wider global audience. 

The Awards Show, featuring presentations and related news stories, will be available to the world’s media, and broadcast extensively on Laureus’ social media platforms.

The winners of Laureus World Sports Awards are selected by the ultimate sports jury – the 69 Members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the greatest athletes of today.

by Abhishek Shukla

Aitana Bonmatí and Lionel Messi crowned at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023™ in London

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023™ ceremony, held in London on Monday, 15 January, crowned Aitana Bonmatí and Lionel Messi as the outstanding players since the last edition, alongside recognising the outstanding performances of coaches, goalkeepers, and more across the men’s and women’s game.

The winners of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 are:

  • The Best FIFA Women’s Player: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain / FC Barcelona)
  • The Best FIFA Men’s Player: Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain / Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami)
  • The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (England / Manchester United)
  • The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper: Ederson (Brazil / Manchester City FC)
  • The Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands / England Women’s National Team)
  • The Best FIFA Men’s Coach: Pep Guardiola (Spain / Manchester City FC)
  • The FIFA Puskás Award: Guilherme Madruga (Brazil / Botafogo Futebol Clube)
  • The FIFA Special Award: Marta
  • The FIFA Fair Play Award: Brazil men’s national team
  • The FIFA Fan Award: Hugo Daniel “Toto” Iniguez

Lionel Messi has been crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2023, retaining the title he won in 2022. Messi topped an incredibly closely contested poll, which was voted for by national team coaches and captains, as well as expert journalists and supporters across the globe.

With the FIFA World Cup 2022™ winner and Manchester City FC and Norway international forward Erling Haaland locked together on 48 points, they were separated by the number of first-choice nominations received in votes from national team captains, as per the Rules of Allocation (article 12). France striker Kylian Mbappe finished third with 35 points. 

Aitana Bonmatí has been named The Best FIFA Women’s Player for the first time. The coveted award is richly deserved for this magnificent midfielder, who in 2023 inspired Spain to their maiden world title, and Barcelona to a domestic and European treble. 

In topping the poll, which followed the same protocol as the men’s award but with women’s national team coaches and captains voting, Bonmatí succeeded her team-mate, 2022 winner Alexia Putellas, fending off competition from fellow finalists Linda Caicedo and Jennifer Hermoso.

Mary Earps has been voted The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper for a second successive year, becoming the first two-time winner in the award’s history.

Earps dazzled once again as the Lionesses won the Finalissima, and reached their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup™ final. Outstanding saves and shootout heroics paved the way to both of those achievements, with Earps’ displays at the latter tournament rewarded with the adidas Golden Glove award. She was also named the best ‘keeper in England’s WSL, having racked up a remarkable 14 clean sheets from just 22 Manchester United appearances last season.

Ederson has been named as The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper of 2023. The Brazilian shot-stopper was awarded the honour following a stellar year in which the 30-year-old backstopped Manchester City’s historic treble-winning campaign.

Ederson topped the poll with 23 points, ahead of fellow finalists Thibaut Courtois (20 points) and Yassine Bounou (16 points).

Sarina Wiegman has been named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach for 2023. The England boss enjoyed a record-breaking year in which she led the Lionesses to the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, and the Arnold Clark Cup and Women’s Finalissima titles.

Wiegman beat Emma Hayes and Jonatan Giraldez to the honour at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ on Monday with 28 points, ahead of Hayes’ 18 points, and Giraldez’s return of 14 points.

Pep Guardiola has been named The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2023 after overseeing an incredible period of success at Manchester City. The Spaniard led the club to a historic Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FA Cup treble in 2022/23.

Guardiola’s all-conquering team won a further two trophies in 2023, lifting the UEFA Super Cup before rounding off the calendar year in perfect style by triumphing at the FIFA Club World Cup™.

Guardiola came out on top in the voting with 28 points, ahead of Italian duo Luciano Spalletti (18 points) and Simone Inzaghi (11 points).

The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony also recognised the standout goal of the year as Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Madruga won the FIFA Puskás Award 2023 for his astonishing overhead kick.

The Botafogo-SP star’s acrobatic effort came out on top ahead of an audacious rabona from Sporting’s Nuno Santos, and Brighton teenager Julio Enciso’s long-range thunderbolt.

The accolade recognises the most spectacular goal in men’s and women’s football across the qualification period, which was between 19 December 2022 and 20 August 2023, and is named in honour of legendary Hungarian forward Ferenc Puskás.

Marta was honoured with The FIFA Special Award in recognition of her illustrious career. She scored a staggering 115 goals in 175 appearances for Brazil and inspired millions, passing on her passion for football in a career that saw her reign supreme in Brazil, Sweden and the USA.

As of 2025, FIFA will introduce a new award to honour her legendary achievements – the best goal scored in women’s football will receive the ‘Marta Award’.

Hugo Daniel “Toto” Iniguez was awarded The FIFA Fan Award for 2023, after the dedicated Colon de Santa Fe fan went viral after he was seen feeding his son during an Argentine Primera Division game against Barracas Central in May 2023.

The heart-warming scene displayed the father’s desire to build a relationship between his two-month-old son and his favourite club from the earliest possible age, with the moment now cemented in history.

The Brazil men’s national team were recognised with the FIFA Fair Play award for their powerful stand against racism. In a friendly against Guinea in June 2023, The Seleção swapped their traditional yellow jerseys for an all-black kit in a show of solidarity with star forward Vinicius Junior, who had been subjected to sickening racist abuse while in action for Real Madrid.

The Best FIFA Football awards™ 2023 ceremony concluded a thorough and democratic process facilitated by FIFA to recognise world football’s top players, coaches, goalkeepers, fans, goals, and acts of fair play.

by Abhishek Shukla

Doreen Vennekamp Crowned ISSF Female Athlete of the Year 2023

International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) – German shooter Doreen Vennekamp has been named the ISSF Female Athlete of the Year for 2023, a prestigious accolade following her remarkable performance in the women’s 25m pistol event. The 28-year-old from Gelnhausen achieved this honor after equaling the world record at the ISSF World Championships in Baku.

Vennekamp’s stellar performance saw her scoring 40 shots, matching the record set by Hungary’s Veronika Major in 2019. Heading into the final series with an eight-shot lead, she secured her victory confidently and also earned a quota place for Germany for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Her season was highlighted by several notable achievements, including a win at one of the six World Cup events in Bhopal and a silver finish at the World Cup Final in Doha. Vennekamp’s success extended beyond her record-setting performance in Baku, as she continued to demonstrate her skill and precision in various competitions throughout the year.

The ISSF Athlete of the Year award, revived by the Athletes Committee after a five-year hiatus, follows the original rules established in 1984. The award aims to recognize not just success and victories but also the shooters who embody the values of commitment and exemplary character in the sport.

Votes for the award were cast by members of the Athletes Committee, Coaches Committee, and ISSF media representatives, with a total of 11 female shooters receiving nominations. Vennekamp emerged as the clear favorite, accumulating 59 points in the voting process.

The runner-up for the award was Slovakia’s Danka Bartekova, an IOC member and London 2012 bronze medalist, who won her first world title in women’s skeet at 38. Tied for third place were Norway’s Jeanette Hegg Duestad and China’s Jiayu Han, both of whom had impressive performances in their respective events.

The ISSF plans to present the award to Vennekamp at the opening ISSF World Cup of the season in Cairo later this month, celebrating her as a role model who exemplifies the spirit and dedication inherent in competitive shooting.

by Abhishek Shukla

ICC announces December Player of the Month nominees

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has today revealed the shortlists of contenders for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for December 2023.

The shortlist for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month contains three top performers from key ICC World Test Championship clashes last month.

Pat Cummins has enjoyed a remarkable 12 months as captain of Australia, and caps a fine year with his first ICC Men’s Player of the Month nomination following a commanding bowling performance to secure series victory over Pakistan. Taijul Islam of Bangladesh also welcomes his maiden nomination thanks to impressive bowling displays in the series against New Zealand. The Blackcaps’ Glenn Phillips provided plenty of heroics in the final Test between the two sides to level the series, and is the third name in contention for the December award.

The ICC Women’s Player of the Month shortlist for December includes two of India’s primary match-winners during their multi-format month, plus a Zimbabwe veteran who stole the show at the ICC Women’s T20WC Africa Qualifier.

Precious Marange bowled Zimbabwe to a landmark victory at the Africa Qualifier, with a sparkling run of form which included a hat-trick in the final outing. Jemimah Rodrigues led India’s batting charge superbly in December, hitting valuable runs in Tests and ODIs against England and Australia. Her teammate Deepti Sharma completes the shortlist thanks to blistering displays at both ends of the wicket – with notable runs and wickets against the same opposition.

An independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world will now be invited to cast their votes to decide the winners, which will be announced next week. Fans registered at icc-cricket.com/awards will be able to vote for their favourite performers until Saturday.

ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for December:

Pat Cummins (Aus)

Cummins has enjoyed many moments of brilliance in 2023, all of which see him firmly in contention for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in the ICC Awards 2023. December capped a fine 12-month period across formats, and Cummins produced another inspiring display as Australia’s spearhead, bowling them to victory in the second Test in Melbourne with ten wickets in the match, including five for 48 in the second innings to clinch victory as the match headed towards a nervy climax. With 13 wickets over the two Test matches, including his 250th in the longest format, he could win his first Player of the Month crown.

Taijul Islam (Ban)

Taijul Islam is another celebrating his maiden nomination in the Player of the Month awards, and the experienced left-arm spinner produced a decisive spell as Bangladesh won the first of their Tests against the visiting Blackcaps in Sylhet. Four wickets in the first innings was followed by a memorable six for 75 as New Zealand fell short by 150 runs. More success followed, where despite losing the second Test, Taijul claimed another five wickets and earned the Player of the Series accolade.

Glenn Phillips (NZ)

With Taijul starring for Bangladesh, Phillips was the shining light for New Zealand as they battled to victory in the second outing to clinch a 1-1 series draw. Before his second Test heroics, Phillips had taken five wickets and chipped in with valuable runs, albeit in vain. On a difficult pitch for batters, Phillips scored 87 of New Zealand’s 180 runs, and followed this with a match-winning 40 as the Blackcaps rallied to reach the required target of 137 after having been 69 for six.

ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for December:

Precious Marange (ZIM)

Zimbabwe’s veteran bowler enjoyed a career-defining series of performances in December as her side secured safe passage from the Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier. Two wickets in their opening match against Kenya was followed by a wicket-less performance against Botswana. Marange then stepped up, with three successive Player of the Match showings, taking three for 13 against Tanzania, then three for nine against Namibia before her crowning glory – five for seven in the final against Uganda to restrict them to 79 all out, which included a 19th over hattrick.

Jemimah Rodrigues (IND)

Rodrigues exhibited superb versatility in December, producing impressive batting displays in all formats of the game. A modest start to the month in T20Is was followed by classy first innings knocks of 70-plus in India’s two Test victories over England and Australia. Rodrigues also continued her run-scoring spell in the subsequent ODI encounters against the Australians, hitting 82 and 44 in the first two matches to end the month having averaged over 60 in Tests and ODIs in December.

Deepti Sharma (IND)

The all-rounder was also a key performer in India’s Test and ODI outings during December. The Test victory over England was a particular highlight for Sharma, striking 67 and 20 with the bat as well as taking nine opposition wickets. She then top-scored for India in the following Test success against Australia before also outlining her ODI strengths, which included five for 38 in the second match as India fell agonizingly short.

The ICC Player of the Month Voting Process: 

The three nominees for either category are shortlisted based on performances from the first to the last day of each calendar month. The shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world. The ICC Voting Academy comprises prominent members of the cricket fraternity including well-known journalists, former players, broadcasters and members of the ICC Hall of Fame. The Voting Academy submit their votes by email and hold a 90 per cent share of the vote. Fans registered with the ICC can vote via the ICC website, accounting for the remaining 10 per cent. Winners are announced every second Monday of the month on ICC’s digital channels. 

Voting Academy for ICC Player of the Month December 2023: 

Afghanistan: Hameed Qayoomi and Javed Hamim; Australia: Scott Bailey and Lisa Sthalekar; Bangladesh: Mohammad Sekander Ali and Md Ariful Islam Roney; England: Elizabeth Ammon and Lydia Greenway; Ireland: Ger Siggins and Clare Shillington; India: S Gomesh and Irfan Pathan; New Zealand: Merryn Anderson and Craig Cumming; Pakistan: Sawera Pasha and Sana Mir; South Africa: Zaahier Adams and Ashwell Prince; Sri Lanka: Azzam Ameen and Farveez Maharoof; West Indies: Daren Ganga and Stacy Ann King; Zimbabwe: Daniel Nhakaniso and Grant Flower; Others: Ajit Vijaykumar and Dirk Nannes.

by Abhishek Shukla

Odisha’s athletes and para-athletes recognised with cash awards for their remarkable performances in December 2023

Bhubaneswar, 05 January 2024: Shri Tusharkanti Behera, Hon’ble Minister, Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha today feliciated and presented cash awards to various athletes from the state for their remarkable performances in December 2023 at the Kalinga Stadium. Also present at the occasion were Sports Director, Shri Siddhartha Das and officials of DSYS to congratulate and encourage the athletes.

Speaking at the occasion, Hon. Sports Minister, Shri Tusharkanti Behera said, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the athletes of Odisha for their remarkable performances and achievements in December 2023. This is our continued effort towards recognizing and incentivizing talented athletes for their performances. I’m sure this will motivate them to better their performances and they have our support throughout their sporting journey.”

Odisha’s Kayaking and Canoeing team, who were the overall champions of the 34th National Canoe Sprint Championship (Senior Men and Women) 2023 held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in December 2023, were felicitated by the Hon’ble Sports Minister. The were 18 different medallists in the contingent, who won a total of 66 medals at the National Championship held in December 2023.  

Sachima Kerkata, Rashmita Sahoo and Moirangthem Sophia Devi were awarded with Rs 90,000 for their multiple medal wins. Sachima won four Gold and three Silver, Rashimta won four Gold, two Silver and a Bronze, while Sophia won three Gold and two Silver medals.

Oinam Bidya Devi (1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze) and Fulmani Xaxa (1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze) received Rs 55,000. Avinash Singham, who won two Silver and two Bronze medals received Rs 50,000, while Salam Kishan Singh (4 Silver medals), Sagar Kumar (3 Silver medals and 1 Bronze medal) and Ahongshangbam Naobi Singh (1 Gold medal, 2 Silver medals and 1 Bronze) received Rs 40,000 each, while Pukhrambam Roji Devi (1 Gold and 2 Silver) and Sruti Chowgule (1 Gold and 2 Silver) were presented with Rs 35,000 each.

Phairembam Borish Singh who returned with three medals – Gold, Silver and Bronze – received Rs 30,000, while Thongam Monocha Singh (1 Gold and 1 Silver), Salam Arshi Devi (1 Gold and 1 Silver) and Laishram Borish Singh (1 Gold and 1 Silver) received Rs 25,000 each. Madhusmita Nayak, who won a Gold received Rs, 15,000, while Elin Alrica Toppo (Silver) and Moirangthem Jabez Meitei (2 Bronze medals) received Rs 10,000 each.

Meanwhile, para-athletes who won medals and took part in the recently concluded World Ability Sports 2023 (previously known as IWAS World Games) in Thailand were also felicitated and awarded cash prizes on the occasion.

Suchitra Parida (Para-athletics), who attained a Gold and a Silver was awarded Rs 34 lakh, while Jayanti Behera (Para-athletics), who won a Silver and two Bronze medals received Rs 30 lakh from the state government. Swadhin Mahar received Rs 14 lakh for winning Silver in Para-athletics.

Para-badminton player Deep Ranjan Bisoi, who won a Gold and a Bronze, received Rs 18 lakh, while Para-badminton Bronze medallist Subhrajeet Maharana was awarded with Rs 4 lakh.

The sports minister also presented a cash award of Rs. 50,000 each to para-athletes for their participation in the World Ability Sports 2023. Para-badminton players G Dillaswar Rao and Nurul Hossain Khan, along with Wheelchair Fencing athletes — Rakhal Kumar Sethy, V Ramesh Rao, Prafulla Kumar Khandayatray, Pujaswini Nayak, Sheela Mantri, Pabitra Sahu and Malti Panaure– each received Rs 50,000 for their participation in the World Ability Sports that is held once in every 2 years.

by Abhishek Shukla

ICC Awards 2023 nominees set to be revealed this week ahead of global vote

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the upcoming programme for the ICC Awards 2023, which will celebrate the standout performers in international cricket following another blockbuster year of action.

2023 saw no shortage of memorable moments and performances, including the breathless action that epitomised the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the dramatic conclusion of the ICC World Test Championship, the record-breaking ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and a host of other international competitions.

A total of 13 categories will comprise the ICC Awards 2023, honouring the outstanding individual performers across the specific formats of men’s and women’s international cricket, as well as the best overall performers who will receive the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the iconic Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

Shortlists for nine of the 13 categories will be revealed between 3 and 5 January 2024 on ICC official channels, with each shortlist featuring four names.

Shortlist Announcements

3 January sees the shortlists for ICC Emerging Men’s and Women’s Cricketers of the Year revealed along with the Men’s and Women’s T20I Cricketers of the Year.

4 January sees nominees announced for the Men’s and Women’s ODI Cricketers of the Year.

5 January will see the final set of shortlists revealed; the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

Shortlists for these categories have been determined by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who identified the star performers according to on-field performances and overall achievements in international cricket through the calendar year.

Voting

Individual winners in the ICC Awards 2023 will be determined by a larger panel of global media representatives, the ICC Voting Academy and global cricket fans, who will be able to vote for their top performers on the ICC website from 3 January 2024.

Results of the ICC Voting Academy selections and the fans’ vote will be combined to determine the winner in each of these nine categories.

Other categories which will be celebrated in the ICC Awards 2023 include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year (determined solely by the Voting Academy), the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award, and the ICC Umpire of the Year, making a total of 13 prizes.

In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will be also decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs from the international stage in men’s and women’s cricket.

Following the conclusion of the voting period, winners of the ICC Awards 2023 will be announced later in January 2024.

ICC Awards 2023 – full list of award categories:

  1. Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year
  2. Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year
  3. ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year
  4. ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
  5. ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
  6. ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year
  7. ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year
  8. ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year
  9. ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year
  10. ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year
  11. ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year
  12. ICC Spirit of Cricket Award
  13. ICC Umpire of the Year
by Abhishek Shukla

Shohei Ohtani Secures 2023 AP Male Athlete of the Year, Joining Elite Group of Multiple-Time Winners

Shohei Ohtani, the remarkable two-way sensation of Major League Baseball (MLB), has once again etched his name in the annals of sporting history by being named The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year for 2023. This accolade marks the second time Ohtani has received this prestigious honor, previously winning it in 2021. His achievement places him in an exclusive circle of only 11 male athletes who have been honored multiple times, a list that includes luminaries such as LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax.

Ohtani’s selection was backed by 20 of the 87 votes from a panel of sports media professionals, edging out other sports giants like soccer star Lionel Messi, tennis great Novak Djokovic, and NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. The award is a testament to Ohtani’s unparalleled performance in 2023, where he was the unanimous American League MVP for the second time and received the Hank Aaron Award.

Athlete NameVotes
Shohei Ohtani20
Novak Djokovic16
Lionel Messi16
Nikola Jokic12
Patrick Mahomes7
Max Verstappen4
Ronald Acuña Jr.3
Noah Lyles3
Erling Haaland2

Statistically, Ohtani’s season was nothing short of phenomenal. With the Los Angeles Angels, he blasted 44 home runs, secured 78 extra-base hits, and accumulated 325 total bases, along with a staggering 1.066 OPS. As a pitcher, he maintained an American League-best .184 batting average against him, struck out 167 batters, and posted a 3.14 ERA over 132 innings before a right elbow injury ended his season prematurely, necessitating surgery in September. This injury implies that Ohtani will not be pitching again until 2025.

Besides his MLB feats, Ohtani also shone internationally, capturing a gold medal with Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His performance peaked in a memorable showdown against Team USA captain and Angels teammate Mike Trout.

Ohtani’s recognition as the AP Male Athlete of the Year is a rare honor for MLB players. In the past decade, only three other MLB stars have received this distinction: Aaron Judge of the Yankees (2022), Jose Altuve of the Astros (2017), and former Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (2014).

by Abhishek Shukla

National Sports Awards 2023 announced: Satwik-Chirag to get Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award for Md Shami; check full list here

New Delhi, December 20, 2023: In a significant announcement, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports revealed the recipients of the prestigious National Sports Awards 2023. The awards, a hallmark of recognizing sporting excellence in India, will be presented by the President of India in a special ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, 2024.

Highlighting the awards, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023, the highest sporting honor in India, will be awarded to badminton players Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj. Their exceptional achievements in badminton, particularly in team events, have earned them this esteemed recognition.

The Arjuna Awards, acknowledging outstanding performance in sports, will be bestowed upon 26 athletes across various disciplines. This includes notable names like Ojas Pravin Deotale and Aditi Gopichand Swami in archery, Sreeshankar M and Parul Chaudhary in athletics, and Mohammed Shami in cricket. Other awardees come from diverse sports like boxing, chess, equestrian, golf, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, lawn bowls, shooting, squash, table tennis, wrestling, wushu, para archery, blind cricket, and para canoeing, showcasing the depth and variety in Indian sports.

The Dronacharya Awards, which honor coaching excellence, will be given in both regular and lifetime categories. Coaches from wrestling, chess, para athletics, hockey, and mallakhamb will be recognized for their contribution to sports training and development.

Additionally, the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games 2023 will honor three distinguished sportspersons from badminton, hockey, and kabaddi, acknowledging their prolonged contribution to their respective sports.

In the field of academic sports, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023 will be awarded to Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar as the overall winner, followed by Lovely Professional University, Punjab, and Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra as the first and second runners-up, respectively. This trophy celebrates the top-performing universities in inter-university tournaments.

These awards, given annually, not only recognize sports performance over the past four years but also honor the spirit of sportsmanship, discipline, and the contribution of coaches and educational institutions in promoting sports in India.
Complete list of Awardees

(i)         Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023

Name of the sportsperson*Discipline
Shri Chirag Chandrashekhar ShettyBadminton
Shri Rankireddy Satwik Sai RajBadminton

*  The Award has been conferred to both sportspersons having similar achievements on account of Team performance.

(ii)        Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2023

Name of the sportspersonDiscipline
Shri Ojas Pravin DeotaleArchery
Ms Aditi Gopichand SwamiArchery
Shri Sreeshankar MAthletics
Ms Parul ChaudharyAthletics
Shri Mohameed HussamuddinBoxing
Ms R VaishaliChess
Shri Mohammed ShamiCricket
Shri Anush AgarwallaEquestrian
Ms Divyakriti SinghEquestrian Dressage
Ms Diksha DagarGolf
Shri Krishan Bahadur PathakHockey
Ms Pukhrambam Sushila ChanuHockey
Shri Pawan KumarKabaddi
Ms Ritu NegiKabaddi
Ms NasreenKho-Kho
Ms PinkiLawn Bowls
Shri Aishwary Pratap Singh TomarShooting
Ms Esha SinghShooting
Shri Harinder Pal Singh SandhuSquash
Ms Ayhika MukherjeeTable Tennis
Shri Sunil KumarWrestling
Ms AntimWrestling
Ms Naorem Roshibina DeviWushu
Ms Sheetal DeviPara Archery
Shri Illuri Ajay Kumar ReddyBlind Cricket
Ms Prachi YadavPara Canoeing

(iii)       Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games 2023

  1. Regular Category:
Name of the CoachDiscipline
Shri Lalit KumarWrestling
Shri R. B. RameshChess
Shri Mahaveer Prasad SainiPara Athletics
Shri Shivendra SinghHockey
Shri Ganesh Prabhakar DevrukhkarMallakhamb
  1. Lifetime Category:
Name of the CoachDiscipline
Shri Jaskirat Singh GrewalGolf
Shri Bhaskaran EKabaddi
Shri Jayanta Kumar PushilalTable Tennis

(iv)       Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement in Sports and Games 2023:

Name of the sportspersonDiscipline
Ms Manjusha KanwarBadminton
Shri Vineet Kumar SharmaHockey
Ms Kavitha SelvarajKabaddi

(v)        Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023: 

1.Guru Nanak Dev University, AmritsarOverall winner university
2.Lovely Professional University, Punjab1st runner up University
3.Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra2nd runner up University
by Abhishek Shukla

Sindhu, Sakshi, Dipa and Jitu rai to be conferred with Khel ratna 2016

Ministry of Youth affarirs and Sports announced that Rio Olympics hero’s, PV Sindhu, Sakshi malik, Dipa Karmakar adn Jitu Rai will be conferred with Prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan award on 29 August 2016.

While PV Sindhu bacame first every female to win Silver medal in for India at Olympics, Sakshi won bronze medal in wrestling. Dipa karmakar finished at 4th place in Vault finals of Gymnastic which in itself is a big achievement  for “alien sports” in India. Jitu Rai reached final of shooting event and failed to finish at podium but he is consistent in last few years and which in turn gave him this award.

Along with Dipa, her coach Bishweshwar Nandi is also being conferred with Dronacharya Award.

Along with Khel Ratna, Dronacharya Awards, Arjuna Awards and Dhyan Chand Awards. See the list of winners in each below:

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ranta 2016

PV Sindhu – Badminton

Dipa Karmakar – Gymnastics

Jitu Rai – Shooting

Sakshi Malik -Wrestling

Dronacharya Awards 2016

Nagapuri Ramesh – Athletics

Sagar Mal Dhayal – Boxing

Raj Kumar Sharma -Cricket

Bishweshwar Nandi – Gymnastics

S. Pradeep Kumar – Swimming (Lifetime)

Mahabir Singh – Wrestling (Lifetime)

Arjuna Awards 2016

Shri Rajat Chauhan – Archery

Lalita Babar – Athletics

Shri Sourav Kothari -Billiards & Snooker

Shiva Thapa – Boxing

Ajinkya Rahane – Cricket

Subrata Paul –  Football

Rani – Hockey

Raghunath V.R. – Hockey

Gurpreet Singh – Shooting

Apurvi Chandela – Shooting

Soumyajit Ghosh – Table Tennis

Vinesh Phogat – Wrestling

Amit Kumar – Wrestling

Sandeep Singh Mann – Para-Athletics

Virender Singh – Wrestling (Deaf)

Dhyan Chand Award 2015

Ms. Satti Geetha – Athletics

Shri Sylvanus Dung Dung – Hockey

Shri Rajendra Pralhad Shelke – Rowing