Sports Review 2017 |30 December 2017

Accolades, silverware continue to roll in

Happily, the accolades and silverware continued to roll in for Seychellois sportsmen and women in international during the 2017 sporting season which has ended.

In perhaps the biggest sporting event ‒ the Jeux de La Francophonie ‒ local athletes competed in this year, they did not disappoint as they showed their verve and determination to win three medals – two gold and a bronze.

Lissa Labiche won the women’s high jump gold medal by clearing the bar at 1.91m at the Jeux de la Francophonie in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Her season’s best of 1.91m is just 1 centimetre shy of her own personal best and national record of 1.92m established at the South African Open Championship in May 2015.

After pulverising his own 100m Seychelles record with a time of 10.33 seconds in the semifinals, Dylan Sicobo matched the time in the final to reach the finish line first to clinch the goal medals ahead of Ivorian athlete Arthur Cissé Gué who ran in 10.34 seconds to clinch the gold medal.

Sicobo, who also took part in the IAAF World Athletics Championships in London where he failed to move past the preliminary rounds, finishing fourth in his heat with a time of 11.01 seconds after picking up a hamstring injury, then joined forces with Sharry Dodin, Ned Azemia and Leeroy Henriette to win the 4x100m relay bronze medal in a new Seychelles record of 40.31 seconds in Abidjan.

Sharry Dodin picks up 100m bronze medal at CAA U20 Championship

Sharry Dodin picked up the 100m bronze medal at the13th Confederation of African Athletics Under-20 Championship in Tlemcen, Algeria and this was probably the country’s first sprint medal at any level in the continental event.

Running in lane number one, Dodin reached the finishing line of the 100m final in 10.58 seconds to finish on the third step of the podium behind gold medallist Thembo Monareng of South Africa (10.41 seconds) and Tinotenda Matiyenga of Zimbabwe (10.50 seconds).

In the heat, Dodin had clocked 10.54 seconds to just miss out on equalising Dylan Sicobo’s junior record of 10.53 seconds.

A member of the Port Glaud Shooting Club and coached by former Olympian Giovanny Fanny, Dodin, who started doing athletics in secondary three, also lined up in the blocks for the 200m final and he finished eighth in 21.43 seconds to better his old junior record of 21.67 seconds set during the Southern Region Senior Athletics Championship in Zimbabwe.

At the Southern Region Senior Athletics Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, high jumperLabiche and male hurdler Ned Azemia claimed a gold medal each for Seychelles.

Labiche, who was reportedly competing for the first time this year and had picked up an injury, managed to leap the highest to clear the bar at 1.80m to claim the gold medal ahead of the other competitors.

In the 400m hurdles event, national record holder Azemia crossed the finish line in 50.94 seconds to clinch the gold medal. Azemia’s performance was not too far from his record of 50.74

Moïse wins men’s half-marathon

Seychellois long distance runner Iven Moïse was the winner of a half-marathon race held in South Korea.

Moïse who had trained in Europe ahead of the competition, ran the half-marathon (21km) in 1 hour 11 minutes 29 seconds (1h11:29) to take first position.

The only bleak spot in track and field athletics was the four-year suspension imposed on sprinter Neddy Marie by the Regional Ant-Doping Organisation. He tested for stanozolol.

In badminton, Seychelles was one of many African nations that responded to Mauritius’ invitation to compete at the Mauritius Junior International, where Jakim Renaud and Jie Luo won a bronze medal in the male doubles.

In basketball, the male under-18 team comprising Khris Bouchereau, Stan Jean, Hensley Bristol and Beejay Bertin won the silver medal at the 3x3 African Young Lions Cup in Botswana. They lost 14-17 to Zimbabwe in the final.

Eleven years after their last championship win, Premium Cobras lifted the men’s division one league crown but could not complete a double as Beau Vallon Heat kept their SBF Cup title. The Cobras also won the Curtain-raiser trophy. On the women’s side, B Challenge made a good start with victory in the Curtain-raiser but they could not retain the league crown. They still persevered to claim the SBF Cup.

As for St Louis Football Club, their 23-year league drought came to an end as they claimed the league and cup double this season.

Basketball pros add gloss to launch of ‘Inspire to Aspire’ programme

Former Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Idith Alexander launched the ‘Inspire to Aspire’ programme ‒ an initiative of her ministry with the help of different partners at the Palais des Sports before an important crowd of mostly youngsters.

French professional Kevin Séraphin, who plays for Indiana Pacers in the NBA (American professional league) was in the house alongside our own professional Abdel Sylla who plays for Monaco in the French Pro A.

“Our ministry believes that this programme will contribute towards alleviating the ills in our society. This project will provide a new impetus for sports, cultural development, youth aspiration and social change. It will provide an avenue for our aspiring youth to understand that the way to success is through hard work and discipline. The presence and interaction with these stars and personalities will provide living proof and testimony. The knock on effect will be of immense benefits to our society,” said Ms Alexander.

Boxers Keddy Agnes, Edrian Volcère pick up gold in Reunion

At the Indian Ocean international boxing gala in Reunion, fighters Keddy Agnes (+91kg) and Edrian Volcère (64kg) won a gold medal each.

Shane Boniface (69kg) won a silver medal, while Nelson Molle (75kg) and Fabio Roselie (56kg) finished third to win a bronze medal each.

In a competition in Serbia, Praslinois Volcère won a bronze medal after winning one of two fights.

Chess: Dericka Figaro earns joint-third place in Rwabushenyi Memorial Championship

Female candidate master Dericka Figaro finished joint-third with Ugandan Candidate Master Christine Namaganda in the 2017 Rwabushenyi Memorial Chess Championship played at the Forest Cottages, Nagurua Hill, Bukkoto in the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda. They both finished with 5.5 points.

With a Fédération internationale des échecs (Fide) rating international of 1605, Figaro was 12th overall in the tournament which was an open affair with male and female players playing each other. There were eight games in total between chesslers from Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan and Seychelles.

Cyclist Stephen Belle wins 200m junior men sprint race

Stephen Belle made history at the African Continental Track Championship in Durban, South Africa, by winning a first gold medal for Seychelles in track cycling.

His triumph at the Cyril Geoghegan Velodrome came in the 200m junior men sprint race and he beat a South African in the final. Third place went to an Algerian.

Belle 17, also won a bronze medal in the mixed team pursuit to add to the other bronze he won in the 10km junior men scratch race. He finished behind Moroccan Mohamed Medrazi and Rwandan Eric Jean Habimana.

The trio of Mario Ernesta, Xerxes Larue and Christopher Gerry took the men’s senior team sprint bronze medal.

As for Vélo Club de l’Ouest captain Ahmad Arissol, who was voted best cyclist in 2014, 2015 and 2016, he was hit with a six-month ban by the Seychelles Cycling Association’s disciplinary committee.

Nine gold medals for Seychelles at European Tang Soo Do Championship

Seychellois karatekas won 27 medals ‒ nine gold, eight silver and 10 bronze ‒ at the European Tang Soo Do Championship held in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The athletes competed in both open-hand and weapons kata as well sparring.

The nine gold medals were claimed by six athletes and they are Steve Marie (two gold – sparring and open hand kata), Che Benoiton (one gold – weapon kata), David Boniface (two gold – open hand and weapon kata), Daniel Bédier (one gold – sparring), Kian Laurence (one gold – open hand kata) and Dean Athanase (two gold – open hand and weapon kata).

Marie and Laurence also won a bronze medal each, while Boniface, Benoiton and Bédier added a silver medal to their collection.

The other medal winners were Louis Vidot (two silver and a bronze), Mastura Shah-Faure (two bronze), Joseph Bibi (one silver and one bronze), Jahvis Bernard (one bronze), Lindy Bédier (two bronze), Sophie Perolari (one silver) and Alvin Bistoquet (one silver and one bronze).

Other than the medals, Dean Athanase also finished the tournament as the grand champion for over 17s in the male white to green belt division, while David Boniface won the same title in the over 17s in the male brown to blue belt division.

Dominique Labrosse, Allan Julie sail to gold medals

Dominique Labrosse (Optimist) and Allan Julie (Laser standard) won a gold medal apiece at the 5th Regional Sailing Championship in Mauritius.

Hervé Lafortune (second) and Nathan Matatiken (third) won the silver and bronze medals in the Optimist category.

Twin brothers Rodney Govinden (silver) and Roy Govinden (bronze) finished behind Julie in the Laser standard division.

In Laser radial class, Paul Morel was ranked third for the bronze medal, while Jasmine Monthy took second position in the female Optimist competition.

In windsurfing, Praslinois Bertrand Lablache finished on the highest step of the podium in the Défi Wind 40km competition and second in the IFCA Grand Prix competition. He was also ranked third in the Regional Sailing Championship.

All three events were held in Mauritius.  

Fellow Praslinois Jean-Marc Gardette put on an impressive show in the RSX African Championship held in Egypt to finish in second spot.

Queen’s Baton relays in Seychelles

Seychelles was the Queen’s Baton’s ninth stop out of a total of 70 ahead of the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

The Queen’s Baton, which is carrying a message from the head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, arrived in Seychelles from Tanzania. In Seychelles, the Queen’s Baton was taken on the traditional relay around Mahé, helped by numerous athletes, students and teachers. During the relay on Mahé, the Queen’s baton stopped at various locations which included the Clock Tower in Victoria, Pointe Larue primary school, Anse Royale primary school and AVANI Resort for various animations.

The Queen’s Baton also went to Praslin and La Digue and there, it made stops at Grand Anse Praslin secondary school, Vallée de Mai and Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue.

Eight win Olympic scholarships

Eight local athletes have been chosen to benefit from a scholarship with the hope of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The athletes are high jumper Lissa Labiche, sprinters Ned Azemia and Dylan Sicobo (athletics), sailor Rodney Govinden, windsurfer Jean-Marc Gardette, judoka Nantenaina Finesse, boxer Keddy Agnes and swimmer Felicity Passon.

They will embark on a three-year scholarship training programme sponsored by the International Olympic Solidarity through the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games (Socga). The programme started on September 1, 2017 and will end in August 2020.

Arrisol, Suzette receive Paisac certificates

Swimming coach Robert Suzette and basketball coach Philip Arrisol attended a three-month Paisac coaching course in Canada and received their certificates during Socga’s end-of-year gathering.

Socga’s treasurer Mary Banane handed them their certificates.

Arrisol, who coaches two Anse Boileau-based basketball teams ‒ male first division side Drifters and female squad HotShots -- followed the advance level 4 coaching course after completing the classical level 3 course in 2009. Suzette, who was following his first Paisac course, did the classical level 3 course.

They both said they are now better equipped and will give their best in helping their sports reach another level.

Alexus Laird wins four gold medals in Zimbabwe

Seychelles finished the Confederation of African Swimming (Cana) Zone IV championship in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe with 22 medals – 5 gold, 6 silver and 11 bronze.

Reigning Sportswoman of the Year Alexus Laird won four gold medals, along with four silver and three bronze. Her first gold medal came in the female 17 years and over 50m backstroke final in a championship record time of 30.96 seconds. She also claimed gold in the 17 years and over 50m freestyle in a championship record time of 27.05 seconds and picked up another in the female 17 years and over 100m freestyle also in a championship record time of 59.64 seconds. She also captured her fourth gold medal in the female 17 years and over 200m freestyle final also in a championship record time of 2:11.26.

Laird’s silver medals came in the female 17 years and over 50m butterfly with a time of 29.94 seconds, 200m backstroke with a time of 2:26.58, 100m backstroke with a time of 1:06.07 and 200m individual medley with a time of 2:31.33.

She was third in the female over-15 800m freestyle with a time of 9:45.86, 400m freestyle in 4:41.58 and 50m breaststroke in 35.26 seconds.

Hayden Ah-Wan picked up one gold medal in the 13 to 14 years category 800m freestyle in a time of 9 minutes 31.54 seconds (9:31.54), which is also a new championship record.

Hayden also won four bronze medals after finishing third in the male 13 to 14 years 50m butterfly with a time of 28.00 seconds, 400m freestyle in 4:32.03, 100m freestyle in 57.53 seconds and 50m freestyle in 25.70 seconds.

Therese Soukoup managed to pick up one silver medal in the female under-14 100m backstroke with a time of 1:11.64. She also claimed two bronze medals in the female under-14 800m freestyle with a time of 10:09.53 and the 400m freestyle with a time of 4:55.00.

Lenel Ah-Wan, Hayden’s twin brother, also won a silver medal and two bronze. Lenel won the silver medal in the male 13 to 14 years 50m butterfly with a time of 27.93 seconds and his bronze medals came in the 100m backstroke in 1:06.43 and 100m butterfly in 1:04.03.

Meanwhile, at the African Junior Swimming Championship in Cairo, Egypt, Italy-based Aaliyah Palestrini won two bronze medals in the 100m backstroke (1:08.98) and 200m backstroke (2:28.43) in her debut for Seychelles.

Nagapin, Ferley win gold medals at CJSOI competition

Daniel Ferley and Nathan Nagapin claimed Seychelles’ two gold medals at the CJSOI (Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien) swimming competition which ended yesterday.

Competing in the 14 years old 200m breaststroke event, Ferley won the gold medal after finishing the race in 2 minutes 48.32 seconds (2:48.32). He finished ahead of Reunion’s Lorenzo Palazzi (2:52.42) who took the silver medal ahead of compatriot Valentin Ah-Von (3:03.97).

Ferley also won a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:17.86.

The other gold medal-winning performance was achieved by Nathan Nagapin who swam the 200m breaststroke event in the 10-11 years category, and he was unchallenged. His performance of 3:06.27, enough to earn him the gold medal.

Tyler Fred won the silver medal in the 14 years old 50m backstroke event, completing the race in a time of 31.81 seconds. Fred’s other medals came in the 100m butterfly (silver, with 1:06.42), 200m backstroke (silver, 2:32.89) and 400m individual medley (bronze, 5:28.11).

Damien Payet won his first medal ‒ a bronze ‒ the 14 years old 1,500m freestyle race. His time was 18:23.10. Joshua Miller was the other bronze medallist for Seychelles after taking third place in the 12-13 years 200m breaststroke event. Miller ended the race in 2:57.27.

Passon captures five gold medals at South West Age Group competition

Competing in the 17 years and over age category at the South West Age Group competition in Plymouth, England, Felicity Passon won five gold medals and lowered two Seychelles records

In the 50m butterfly, she lowered her own record of 27.90 seconds to 27.59 seconds and she got her second national record of 29.30 seconds in the 50m backstroke. The previous record of 29.48 seconds belonged to Alexus Laird.

Passon won the gold medals in both the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke. The young swimmer also won the 4x100m freestyle relay with her team in 3 minutes 50.69 seconds (3:50.69) by swimming her leg in 57.18 seconds. She also claimed the 100m backstroke in a personal best time of 1:02.80 and her fifth gold medal came in the 50m freestyle in a time of 26.41 seconds.

Four gold medals for Passon in South Africa

With a total of nine medals including four gold in the senior and elite youth categories, Felicity Passon was Seychelles’ best performer at the South Africa National Aquatics Championship at the Kings Park in Durban.

Reigning Sportswoman of the Year Alexus Laird also took part in the championship and the two swimmers’ combined effort got Seychelles a seventh-place finish overall with 68 points.

Passon captured the 100m freestyle elite youth gold medal with a time of 57.10 seconds and she was back in the water the next day to swim the 100m freestyle final and she won the senior category bronze medal in a time of 56.90 seconds.

She also swam the 50m backstroke in a new personal best time of 29.74 seconds to win the silver medal in the senior category. Her gold medal in the senior category came in the 100m butterfly event with a new Seychelles record time of 1 minute 00.82 seconds (1:00.82) and this performance also earned her the elite youth category gold medal.

She collected her third elite youth gold medal in the 50m freestyle event with a winning time of 26.30 seconds which was faster than the previous national record time of 26.49 seconds she had set earlier in the preliminaries. The national record for this event belonged to Alexus Laird at 26.68 seconds.

Passon’s two silver medals in the elite youth category came in the 100m backstroke after finishing with a time of 1:03.19, and 50m backstroke with a time of 29.76 seconds.

Other than her 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly times which have gone down as new records, Passon also swam the 200m freestyle in a best time of 2:07.53 to erase from the record books the previous record time of 2:07.60 which was held by Shrone Austin.

As for Alexus Laird, she claimed a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke event with a time of 1:04.54.

Clementina Agricole captures African and Commonwealth titles

Clementina Agricole and Brenda Lozaique were Seychelles’ medallists at the African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Mauritius.

Banned for two years by the Seychelles Weightlifting Association (SWA) for misconduct before returning to action less than a month later after a surprise turn of events, Agricole picked up her first African Senior Weightlifting Championship title after winning three gold medals in the 63kg weight category in Mauritius. Challenged by two Tunisians, an Algerian and a Malagasy inside the National Weightlifting Centre in Vacoas, two-time former Sportswoman of the Year Agricole lifted 86kg in snatch and 107kg in clean & jerk for an Olympic total of 193kg to win three gold medals.

With only three lifters in the 75kg weight category, Brenda Lozaique took the last spot for three bronze medals with 55kg in snatch and 70kg in clean & jerk for an Olympic total of 125kg.

In September, Agricole travelled to Gold Coast, Australia to take part in the Commonwealth Championship and she claimed the -63kg category gold medal after lifting a total of 200kg (85kg in snatch and 115kg in clean & jerk).

Agricole also competed in the French Open to net 187kg and French Championship where she lifted an Olympic total of 194kg.

Meanwhile, SWA chairman Robert Rose was chosen by the International Weightlifting Federation to run the technical committee for the 2018 Commonwealth Games’ weightlifting competition.

But on a negative note, weightlifter Ian Rose was banned for four years for violating an anti-doping control rule, according to the Regional Anti-doping Organisation of the Indian Ocean (Orad)

According to Orad, the 35-year-old took an out-of-competition doping test on March 16, 2016 but did not complete it. Rose also refused to give the required sample for a urine test. Instead of the 90ml prescribed by law, Rose only gave 50ml. Refusal to give the required quantity of urine sample for any doping test is a violation of article 2.3 of the Regional Anti-doping Organisation rules. Rose’s four-year ban took effect on April 13, 2016 and will end on April 13, 2020.

Beach volleyball bronze medal for Adeline and Nourrice

After the mother and daughter duo of Jerina and Marielle Bonne decided not to accept the Seychelles Volleyball Federation’s offer to compete at the Commonwealth Games beach volleyball African qualifiers in Sierra Leone, the pair of Angelique Adeline and Hilary Nourrice were drafted in as replacements and returned home with the bronze medal.

Adeline and Nourrice were proud of their bronze medal which is in fact a big achievement for them as it was their first international outing in beach volleyball. They described the competition as very tough and of a very high standard and very well organised.

The fact that they came out third, the duo’s chance of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games beach volleyball tournament looks very slim although they wait for a wild card invitation.

For refusing to play in the qualifiers, Jerina and Marielle Bonne were given five-year bans.

Germany-based Pro Medkliniken set up clinic here

Seychelles’ sport development took a more scientific approach this year thanks to the partnership established with Germany-based Pro Medkliniken, a leading innovative hospital group, with a particular interest in sports medicine.

Among the plans laid out in this partnership, Pro Medkliniken will be looking to open its own clinic here in Seychelles where it will help our athletes with treatment and conditioning, while it is also expected to venture into sports tourism.

Top coaches pass away

Top coach Patrick Cafrine, 53, passed away and was at the time the coach of the Under-17 selection, a team playing the third division league this season. The former St Louis coach, who was also a coaching instructor at national level, had a playing career during the regionalisation era and played for his home side Anse Boileau with whom he won the knockout title in 1989 beating the Anse Aux Pins team 1-0 to qualify for the old African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1990 and they met Pemba Sports Club of Tanzania. They conceded the heaviest defeat by a local team in African club competitions by losing 0-5 at Stad Popiler and 1-12 in Tanzania for a 1-17 aggregate score defeat.

Basketball Alix Allisop, 49, died after contracting the plague during a mission in Madagascar with the Beau Vallon Heat team.