The Momentum Gsport Awards is one of the most prestigious events in South Africa’s sporting calendar. The motive of this award is to elevate the profiles of women in sports. The event was initially launched as an initiative by G Sport in August 2006.
The nominations in four different categories, namely, Momentum Athlete of the Year, Emerging Athlete of the Year, School Sports Star of the Year, and Global Woman in Sport are revealed for this year’s Momentum Gsport Awards 2024. In this article, we will have a look at the list of nominees.
Momentum Gsport Awards 2024 Nominees:
Momentum Athlete of the Year [Laura Wolavaardt]:
The 25-year-old South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt from Cape Town has been very impressive with the bat in the T20I format for South Africa this year. She has scored 311 runs at an impressive strike rate of 135.21 and a sensational average of 44.42 in 8 innings. Her tally of runs included a couple of half-centuries and a century against Sri Lanka. It was her maiden century (102 off 63 balls) in the T20I format on 27th March 2024 in the 1st T20I at Willowmoore Park, Benoni.
As far as the ODI format is concerned, she has been exceptional with the bat this year for her side. She has amassed 542 runs at a strike rate of 95.75 and a mind-boggling average of 90.33 in nine innings. Her tally of runs includes three unbeaten centuries and a half-century for her side. In the red-ball format, she has scored 154 runs at a strike rate of 40.52 and an impressive average of 38.50 in four innings. Her tally of runs includes one century (122 off 314 balls) in a one-off Test Match against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai. It was her maiden century in the red-ball format for South Africa.
Emerging Athlete of the Year [Nadine de Klerk]:
The young 24-year-old all-rounder from Pretoria, Nadine de Klerk has been one of the standout performers for South Africa across formats this year. She has scored 106 runs at a sensational strike rate of 147.22 and an impressive average of 26.50 in 8 innings with the bat in the T20I format this year. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 8 wickets at a strike rate of 19.5 and an economy of 7.69 in 8 innings with the ball.
As far as the ODI format is concerned, she has scored 175 runs at a strike rate of 81.77 and an average of 25 in seven innings. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 8 wickets in 7 innings at a strike rate of 35.6, an average of 33.87, and an economy of 5.70.
In the red-ball format, she has scored 105 runs at a strike rate of 44.11 and a decent average of 26.25 in four innings with the bat. Her tally of runs includes one half-century (65 off 185 balls) against India. It was also her maiden half-century in the red-ball format. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up three wickets at an economy of 5.30 in a couple of innings with the ball.
School Sports Star of the Year [Karabo Meso]:
The young 16-year-old wicket-keeper batter made her international debut on 30th March 2024, in a T20I against Sri Lanka. She has only played a couple of matches so far for her side, having last played on 3rd April 2024 in a T20I against Sri Lanka.
Global Woman in Sport [Chloe Tryon]:
The veteran 30-year-old all-rounder from Durban showed a lot of promise for the Proteas this year. She scored 78 runs at a strike rate of 106.84 at an average of 13 in 8 innings with the bat in the T20I format for her side. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she also picked up four wickets at an average of 29.50 and an economy of 5.61 in seven innings with the ball in the T20I for her side this year.
In the ODI format, she has scored 58 runs at a strike rate of 95.08 and a decent average of 29 in three innings with the bat for her side. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up a couple of wickets at an average of 41.50, an economy of 5.03 in three innings with the ball for her side in the ODI format. As far as the red-ball format is concerned, she has scored 69 runs at a strike rate of 40.58 and an impressive average of 34.50 in a couple of innings. Her tally of runs included one half-century (64 off 153 balls) at Western Australia Cricket Association ground (W.A.C.A), Perth. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up three wickets at an average of 27 and an economy of 3.79 in one innings with the ball for her side.
Apart from her all-round contributions at the international level, she has also been in popular demand to be a part of the franchise leagues around the world. She was a part of the skipper Georgia Adams-led side Southern Brave in the recently concluded 4th edition of the Women’s Hundred. The defending champions had a season to forget as they finished last on the points table with three points from 8 games. Their only victory of the campaign came against Oval Invincibles led by skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill, and a tied game against the Northern Superchargers led by skipper Hollie Armitage.
She scored 191 runs at an impressive strike rate of 135.46 and an average of 31.83 in 8 innings. Her tally of runs included one half-century against the eventual runners-up of the tournament, Welsh Fire led by skipper Tammy Beaumont. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up three wickets at an economy of 7.90 in 8 innings with the ball for her side.
She is also currently a part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors led by skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill in the ongoing 3rd edition of the tournament. She is currently the 2nd highest wicket-taker of the tournament and for her side with six wickets at an impressive average of 8.16 and a sensational economy of 4.45 in three innings so far with the ball for her side. Her tally of wickets includes 1 four-wicket haul against the Trinbago Knight Riders led by skipper Deandra Dottin. Apart from her exploits with the ball, she has also scored 10 runs in a couple of innings so far with the bat for her side in the ongoing tournament.