Finalists for the prestigious SP Sports Awards (SPSA) for 2024 have been announced today (Thursday, May 9) in Port Moresby, and veteran female heavy-weight lifter, and Olympian, Dika Toua stands among those final 33. Toua, the 49kg athlete, who in April had narrowly missed qualifying for a spot in the Paris Olympics, dashing hopes for a sixth Olympic appearance, is one of the three named finalists for the Female Athlete of the Year award. Alongside is tennis star, Abigail Tere-Apisah which a colourful tennis career, and Rachel Laing, the inspirational 62-year athletics sprinter, who is currently preparing for the World Masters Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden later this year. Laing started sprinting at 57 and is PNG’s first and only Masters Athlete, who believes that age should not hold you back. In making the announcement today, Chairman of the SPSA Selection Panel, Warwick Vele said there has been a significant jump in the number and quality of nominations. “It was very pleasing…a good mix of online and paper-based nominations.” “There were a couple of categories where we would have liked to see more nominations, especially with our junior athletes, so we would like to encourage federations to continue highlighting their juniors coming through.” Rising tennis star siblings, Sugar-Ray Hakena (U-16) and younger sister, Colita Hakena, PNG’s top-ranked Under-14 girls’ tennis player, are finalists in the Cocoa-Cola Europacific Partners PNG Junior Male and Female Athletes of the Year respectively. The other junior male athletes of the year are basketballers, Adam Maikai and Noah Yangomina, while the other two junior female athletes of the year finalists are Bede Dorothy Igo (weightlifting) and Timonaliz Alarcos Kriebisch (squash). “We took great delight in seeing what’s happening in our communities around the country, and giving opportunities for recognition to those participants and programs that don’t always get the high level of exposure that our more recognized sports do.” This includes the Community Sports Initiative finalists comprising the National Kickboxing Federation, Cecilla Kanawi for her Break A Sweat (fitness & Nutrition Club), and Timothy Mako. Finalists in the Trukai Industries Limited Sports Official of the Year are Mark Keto (boxing), Frederica Sakatte (football), Nelson Stone (multi-sport) and Trukai Limited Sports Media of the Year finalists are NBC Sports Desk, Jamie Haro and Patricia Keamo. Jamie Haro, a sports journalist from The National Newspaper, was one of four recipients of the Women in News and Sports (Wins) initiative under the Australia Broadcasting Corporation’s International Development Unit (ABCID) in 2023 during the FIBA U17 Oceania Championship, receiving sports commentary training. She has also been named a finalist in the Sports Photo category, along with Patricia Keamo and Kora Mea. Chairman of the SPSA Selection Panel, Warwick Vele said the Sports Photo category is one of those that do not always get the high level of exposure that more recognised sports do. Vele also said the achievements of our Para-athletes were of a very high standard, competing in regional and global meets and this is a great platform to acknowledge their achievements and successes. Para-Athlete of the Year finalists, sponsored by CPL, are Haoda Agari (table tennis), Martha Awong (badminton), and Samantha Maiasa (athletics). For Team of the Year, it's no surprise that PNG Barramundis has been named a finalist, as the PNG cricket boys just keep going from strength to strength on the cricket scene. The Baras, captained by Assad Vala, head off next week to the West Indies for their second appearance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup with their first game on June 2 against hosts, West Indies. Other finalists in this category, sponsored by Carbine Club, are PNG Amoa (volleyball) and PNG Lakatois (football). Rugby Union 7s has locked all the finalist spots for the Brands Pacific’s National Performance of the Year category, which includes Morobe Hammerheads, Kimbe Pirates, and Biala Suaras. Mr Vele further said the announcement of the finalists also marks the opening of the People’s Choice voting for the 12th category of the People’s Choice Award. “The winner of the People’s Choice Award is selected through a public vote… (and)…the more votes a finalist gets, the more chances of them winning.” Candidates for this category come from four finalists from the Male & Female Athlete, Team, and National Performance of the Year categories. “Voting for the People’s Choice Award category will close on 19th May 2024… (and) …the Presentation Night will be held at the home of the SP Sports Awards, Crown Hotel on Saturday 01st June 2024.”