Africa-Press – Mauritius. A ceremony to reward athletes and coaches who won medals at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2022, was held, yesterday, at the Côte D’Or Multi Sports Complex in Côte d’Or.
The sum disbursed, to the tune of Rs 1,385,000 was awarded to athletes and coaches of different categories, namely: Judo; Weightlifting; Boxing; and Para Athletics.
The objective of the cash prize ceremony is to recognise and reward the efforts and performance of Mauritian sportspersons as well as to encourage and support their sporting endeavours at all levels.
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation, Mr Jean Christophe Stephan Toussaint, and other personalities were present on the occasion. At the outset, Minister Toussaint lauded the athletes for their remarkable performances and recalled that they are being rewarded for bringing home medals from the Commonwealth Games.
“In order to achieve this result, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation has invested a sum of Rs 18 million in our athletes which were used for training courses, external competitions as well as for travel expenses to participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games,” he stressed.
On that note, Mr Toussaint underlined that it was an investment that was worthwhile as Team Mauritius has won five medals at the Games compared to four medals from the 1998 Commonwealth Games, ranking Mauritius on the 27th spot out of 72 participating countries.
“This bears testimony that the level and performance of Mauritian athletes, with the support of their coaches and other stakeholders, have improved positively,” he stated.
Moreover, the Minister indicated that this team of medalists is a very strong and solid one and, at the level of the Ministry, consultations have started with relevant authorities in order to find ways to strengthen the capacities of these medalists and other athletes as well.
“In two years’ time, the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will be held, and we are hoping that the capacity-building structures being prepared will enable our athletes to return to Mauritius with Olympic medals,” Mr Toussaint pointed out.
Cash prizes have been allocated as follows: Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Judo: Cash Prize of Rs 150,000 to Mr Feuillet Remi for the Men 90 kg (Silver);
Rs 100,000 to Mr Perrinne Sebastien for Men 100+ kg (Bronze); Rs 100,000 to Ms Legentil Christianne for Women 57kg (Bronze) and; Rs 60,000 to coaches Mr Collet Laval, Ms Chery Priscila and Mr Andre Eddy. Weightlifting: Cash Prize of Rs 200,000 to Ms Marie Hanitra Roilya Ranaivosoa in 49Kg- Women (Silver) and; Rs 80,000 to coach Mr Souprayen Padiatty.
Boxing: Cash Prize of Rs 200,000 to Mr Colin Richarno for the Men’s Over 60kg-63.5kg (Light Welterweight) (Silver) and; Rs 80,000 to coaches Mr Ibanez Chavez Roberto, Mr Basile Judex and Mr Sunee Richard. World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2022 (26 to 28 May 2022)
Cash Prizes of Rs 100,000, Rs 65,000 and Rs 65,000 to Ms Alphonse Noemi for the 400metres T54 (Gold), 100metres T54 (Silver) and 200metres T54(Silver) respectively and; Cash Prizes of Rs 26,000, Rs 14,000 and Rs 14,000 to Ms Angeline Anais for Long Jump T37 (Silver), 100metres T37 (Bronze) and 200metres T37 (Bronze) respectively. Daniela Jutzeler Memorial 2022 Cash Prize of Rs 65,000 to Ms Alphonse Noemi for the 100 metres T54 (Silver).
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