Africa-Press – Kenya. World Under-20 800m champion, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, headlines the star-studded pack shortlisted for the Most Promising Boy accolade at the 2021 Sports Personality of the Year Awards scheduled for January 19 in Kakamega County.
Wanyonyi rose to the limelight during the World Under-20 games at Moi Stadium, Kasarani after winning the 800m title in a record time of 1:43.76.
However, the youngster must first battle hard to fend off a stiff challenge from namesake Heristone Wanyonyi who rose above insurmountable odds to bag Kenya’s first gold ever in the walk race with a personal best time of 42:10.84.
Heristone, 18, edged the more fancied Indian Amit Khatrito to the title after dominating the national trials in 45:47.5.
Also, in contention is another athletics luminary, Vincent Keter, who triumphed in the 1500m race, timing 3:37.24 to beat Ethiopia’s Wegene Addisu to second place.
The 19-year-old Keter ended his season on a high, winning the men’s 1,500m in an impressive 3:35.99 at the World Athletics Continental Tour Kip Keino Classic.
Kenya Rugby Under-20 fly-half Andrew Matoka also has his eyes firmly trained on the title following a successful campaign with the Chipu. Matoka put in a man-of-the-match performance, effectively firing the local lads to a back-to-back Barthes Cup title in Nairobi.
The 20-year-old Kenya 15s Under-20 vice-captain was the top point scorer at the 2021 edition of the tournament, having scored three tries and three penalties as well as five conversions.
His superb exploits handed him consecutive berths in all the national teams this season, where he featured for the Kenya 7s, Kenya Simbas, and Chipu.
Besides, he also guided his local side Strathmore Leos to the semis of the Kenya Cup.
Seventeen-year-old Muthaiga junior golfer, Taimur Malik, has also made the cut after a blistering season that saw him stun seasoned professionals on his way to clinching the 2021/22 Safari Tour Golf Series at par 72 Sigona Golf Club in October.
Incidentally, Malik was the only amateur who made the second-round cut after firing a course record round of seven-under-par 65 in the final round, to catch up with home golfer Mohit Mediratta and Vet Lab Sports Club’s Edwin Mudanyi on four under par total of 284 which saw the three proceed to a playoff.
Taimur also completed an impressive 54-hole total of two under par 214, to claim the 2021 Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC), formerly Goty at the Karen Challenge golf tournament.
Malik, who represented Kenya in the Magical Open, and featured for the Muthaiga and previously Windsor teams during the Tannahill Shield, got off well, firing two rounds of two under par 70 each to grab an early lead.
Despite dropping two shots in the final round on day 2 for two over par 74, he still managed to beat Kenya Amateur Match Play Champion John Lejirmah of Kenya Railway Golf Club by two shots.
The 2021 Soya Awards whose theme is dubbed “from Resilience to Recovery”, has been powered by Kakamega County, Lotto Foundation, CPF Financial Services, NSSF and Safaricom.
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