Currently competing at the Karen Open tennis Championships, Ismail Changawa was named the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) sports personality of November.
The 21 year old Kenya’s top seed player received the prize while playing in the open championships saying that will motivate him as plans to turn professional in his gaming career.
SJAK, in collaboration with pay television StarTimes, is the main sponsor of the monthly award and Changawa said that much is needed to boost the sport to the world map.
“The federation is putting in work to raise standards but we are still lagging behind. Other players feature in tournaments almost every day and their federations are sponsoring different meets but Kenya is trying to get there too,” said Changawa.
Studying business management had an outstanding month, winning the Rwanda Open after beating top seed Duncan Mugabe 6-1, 6-2 in the final. He did not drop a set throughout the tournament.
A week later he won the Malawi Open after defeating Zambia’s Edgar Kazembe 6-2, 7-5.
Changawa won the Malawi Open men’s singles without dropping a set and partnered with Ibrahim Kibet to win the men’s doubles with a 6-1, 6-4 win over the pair of Kazembe and Liberty Ndula.
He walked away with a trophy, StarTimes 42 inch digital television set and Sh100, 000.
“This is such a great surprise and it makes me very happy. I was not expecting this. It only proves that working hard pays off because I have been working really hard and making numerous sacrifices to achieve what I have. This goes a long way to inspire and motivate me to work harder,” an elated Changawa said.
The American based Kenyan player faced stiff competition from Geoffrey Kamworor, Kenya’s top Chess player 41-year- old Steve Ouma who is a Fide Master and KCB RFC’s Ken Moseti.
“Victories away in Rwanda and Malawi are exploits we truly need to celebrate and he deserves this special recognition. The awards are aimed at bolstering the general performance of sport in the country as well as whipping up the enthusiasm of Kenya’s sports personalities in the country,” noted StarTimes Director of Marketing and PR Mr. Japhet Akhulia.
Additional Information: Sportika.co.ke