The 2010 National Sports Awards Ceremony will be held tonight at the National Cultural Centre at 19:00 hours.
The ceremony was postponed from February 25 but according to Director of Sport Neil Kumar “Everything is set” for tonight’s staging of the awards.
Guyana’s world class bodybuilder Hugh Ross and female boxing champion Shondel Alfred were voted the 2010 Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively after voting to identify 2010’s top sports personalities took place on February 4 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Also speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday, Ross, who is charged with delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the recipients, said that he was pleased upon hearing that he was selected for the award.
Ross, who arrived in Guyana on February 22, is here especially for today’s awards. He noted that after he was informed he was voted Sportsman of the Year, there were “mixed feelings”, and added that “there was elation and a touch of great humbleness.”
“Personally I was very much overwhelmed for such an accolade to be bestowed upon someone [like me], after all of the different parties have arbitrated and took everything into consideration,” said Ross.
“To be the one selected for this award was very humbling. I view it as something very prestigious and it is something which I will actually honour,” he added.
The US-based Ross, who is also a former powerlifter capped his 2010 sporting year and his ambitious powerlifting career by winning his first Mr. Universe Master’s title, adding to his many accolades.
Ross was the first Guyanese to win a Mr. Universe title and became the second bodybuilder to win the Sportsman of the Year Award, following in the footsteps of 2004 winner Sylvan Gardner.
“Last year I focused six months just to prepare for this particular event [The Mr. Universe competition].”
Ross explained that immediately after he completed the successful hosting of the Hugh Ross Classic in April last year at the National Cultural Centre, he returned to focus his attention on preparing for the Mr. Universe competition.
“My primary focus was to compete at that one event last year,” Ross explained.
In highlighting his future plans, Ross stated that he will not be returning to the Mr. Universe competition anytime soon. “It makes no sense repeating the Mr. Universe at this point in time because the title stays with you for life,” Ross said, while adding that he now has his eyes set on participating in the bodybuilding World Championships.
