Tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi and 1500m World and Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon are among the nominees for sportswoman of the year
Tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi and 1500m World and Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon are among the nominees for sportswoman of the year at this year’s SOYA Awards.
Okutoyi has had a phenomenal year that has seen her play at the Junior Australian Open, win the women’s doubles title at the Junior Wimbledon Tennis Championship, and secure a tennis scholarship to a US based university.
Kipyegon, on the other hand, won gold at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon before narrowly missing out on the 1500m world record after clocking a time of 3 minutes 50.37 seconds in Monaco in August this year.
Other nominees include Japan based rugby star Janet Okello, who was part of the Kenya Lionesses team that reached the semifinal of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Chile, narrowly missing out on qualification to the Women’s Sevens World Series.
Others are 800m Commonwealth Games champion Mary Moraa and her 5000m counterpart Beatrice Chebet, World Rally Championship (WRC) 3 winner Maxine Wahome, Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) women’s league most valuable player Natalie Akinyi, Harambee Starlets’ forward Corazon Aquino and golfer Naomi Wafula.
2022 Sportswoman of the Year Nominees;
Janet Akello-Rugby
Mary Moraa-Athletics
Maxine Wahome-Motorsports
Angela Okutoyi-Tennis
Faith Kipyegon - Athletics
Natalie Akinyi - Basketball
Corazon Aquino - Football
Naomi Wafula - Golf
Beatrice Chebet - Athletics
Peres Jepchirchir – Athletics
Sharon Chepchumba – Volleyball
Ruth Chepngetich – Athletics
Jackline Chepkoech – Athletics
Elizabeth Andiego – Boxing
Hildah Indasi – Basketball
Brenda Arivisa – Handball
Sophia Ayieta – Wrestling
Christine Ongare – Boxing
Melissa Akinyi – Basketball
Gladys Chilo – Handball