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University student wins Sports Personality award
Sasah Mongeli poses with her trophy and 42-inch digital TV after she was declared the StarTimes/SJAK sports personality of the month for October 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY |
What you need to know:
- Compatriot Lucy Wanjiru also attained a WCM title after stunning her higher rated opponent in a well-played rook ending as the Kenyan side returned with two individual times.
- Her exploits saw her win a 42-inch digital television courtesy of StarTimes as well as Sh100,000 and a trophy. And the accolades left the third-year Actuarial Science major quite surprised.
University student Sasha Mongeli is the StarTimes/SJAK sports personality of the month for October 2018.
Mongeli beat Equity Hawks player Belinda Okoth, tennis sensation Angela Okuyoti and Abraham Kiptum for the accolade.
The 21-year-old student at Technical University of Kenya attained the higher Women Fide Master (WFM) title during the World Chess Olympiad held in Batumi, Georgia between September 28- October 6.
It was her debut at the biennial event and she achieved the feat with two rounds to spare.
Her score of eight wins out of nine games was one of the best in the Olympiads and the highest percentage score by a Kenyan in the Olympiad’s history.
She had previously gained a Women Candidate Master (WCM) title during the 15-day event before upgrading to the WFM
Compatriot Lucy Wanjiru also attained a WCM title after stunning her higher rated opponent in a well-played rook ending as the Kenyan side returned with two individual times.
Her exploits saw her win a 42-inch digital television courtesy of StarTimes as well as Sh100,000 and a trophy. And the accolades left the third-year Actuarial Science major quite surprised.
“I honestly never though that something like this would happen to me. Chess is not a very popular sport like football, rugby or event athletics, but you have shown that indeed we matter,” she said.
“This award will inspire more chess players to continue working hard because now it is evident that our efforts are not going unnoticed,” she added.
“Not many people consider chess as a sport and so to award someone from this field is quite remarkable and unique. This award is all about going beyond the norm and unearthing those that have been forgotten,” StarTimes Director of Marketing and PR, Japheth Akhulia, said.
“As a brand, StarTimes will endeavour to encourage our sports men and women through these awards as a way of recognizing their dedicated efforts in the industry.
SJAK chairman, Chris Mbaisi, said the association ventured into the unique monthly awards to give non-football players a chance to be recognized. “We are happy that these awards are already inspiring players to work hard to accomplish their aim,” Mbaisi noted.
