Kolinisau, Roden named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year

Vodafone Fiji 7s captain Osea Kolinisau is the Fiji Tattslotto 2016 Fiji Sportsman of the Year.

Kolinisau was nominated by the Fiji Rugby Union for his role as the captain of the 2015-2016 World Sevens Series overall winners and winning Fiji’s first ever Gold medal at the Rio Olympics last year.

Kolinisau says he is honored to win this award and has dedicated this award to his teammates who helped the team to win major titles.

Former Fiji 7s coach Ben Ryan won the Coach of the Year award while the Fiji 7s team won the Team of the Year award after their historic gold medal win at the Rio Olympics.

Meanwhile, Merewalesi Roden won the Fiji Tattslotto 2016 Fiji Sportswoman of the Year award.

Roden was nominated by the Fiji Table Tennis Association.

She is the number one national female athlete in her division in the Oceania region.

Roden also won Gold at the New Zealand Par Open, first female athlete to represent Fiji at the Paralympics and is considered a role model for people with disabilities.

Other awards: Fiji 7s trainer, Nacani Cawanibuka won the Paradise Beverages Sports Technical Official of the Year award, Mereia Belo won the 2016 Sports Volunteer of the Year award, Weightlifting Fiji was awarded the Sports Organisation of the Year, Sally Yee won the Young Female Athlete of the Year award while Sitiveni Timi was given the Young Male Athlete Award.