L. MathekaBig guns Kipyegon and Okutoyi headline SOYA’s sportswoman of the year nominees
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 29.11.22. | 12:40
The gala returns to Nairobi after being held in Kakamega, Naivasha and Mombasa in the last four editions.
Two-time 1500m world champion Faith Kipyegon and Grand Slam winner Angella Okutoyi have made the list for sports woman of the year at this year’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA).
The two headline a list of women who are drawn from athletics, tennis, football, basketball, motorsport, golf and rugby among other disciplines all looking to make it to the podium for their stellar achievement in the post-Covid-19 season.
2022 Sportswoman of the Year Nominees;
— SOYAAwardsOfficial (@AwardsSoya) November 29, 2022
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 #SoyaAwards2022 pic.twitter.com/J1RKdUdKEW
18-year old tennis prodigy Okutoyi makes the list having gone down the history books on Saturday 9 July as she lifted the Wimbledon Girls’ Doubles title to become the first ever Kenyan player to win in any Grand Slam Tournament.
Making just her third appearance in a major tennis tournament, after bows in the Australian Open and the Roland Garros, the Kenyan youngster, together with her Dutch partner Rose Marie Nijkamp, defeated the Canadian pair of Kayla Cross and Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-4 (11-9) to write the history books by lifting the Junior Girls Doubles title.
In November, Okutoyi once again bagged another piece of silverware, but this time on home soil, as she won the Doubles title in the second edition of the W15 ITF Women's World Tennis Tour tournament held at the Karen Country Club.
Alongside her Indian partner Bhasin Smriti, the duo upstaged first-seeded Balu Sharmada (India) and Leon Sebastiani (USA) as they clinched the title following a straight set 6-3, 7-5 victory in the championship decider.
On her part, Kipyegon makes the list for her exploits this season that saw her win her second world title in 1500m and defend her Diamond League (DL) trophy in Zurich.
The back-to-back Olympic champion ran a world-leading Kenyan record of 3:50.37 just three tenths of a second off the world record at the Monaco Diamond League where she had set her sight on breaking the record held by Genzebe Dibaba.
When two legends shared a podium! Who would you want see nominated for the 2022 Soya Awards?#SoyaAwards2022 pic.twitter.com/yR33mC4LdC
— SOYAAwardsOfficial (@AwardsSoya) November 28, 2022
Other making the list are rugby star Janet Okello, 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 among others.
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
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