By Sulayman Bah
Two Gambian athletes are in the running for one of Swedish sports biggest titles, Foroyaa Sport can report.
Khaddi Sagnia, a 21-year-old, is one of nominees for the annual Sweden Best upcoming athlete of the year, an awards night dubbed SvenskaIdrottsgalan. Sagnia has been phenomenal during the course of last year’s athletics season, dazzling in a number of long Jump events for both club and country.
Born in Helsingborg to a Gambian parent with seven siblings, Khaddi’s nomination came as no surprise but she needs to beat off a host of other competitors for the coveted prize.
The other Gambian making waves and in the running for the biggest award of the night is boxer Badou Jack whose hat is in the ring for Sweden Athlete of the Year prize.
The 32-year-old left many mouth-gaped when he stunned English boxer Dirrel to grab the World Boxing Council Super-middleweight belt before retaining it in the first attempt months later against George Grooves.
Such has been his lethal form that judges found him an irresistible inclusion into the nominations. However, Jack who is favourite to land the silverware and led the Gambian team that partook in the Beijing Olympic 2008, first needs to upstage Sweden national team captain Ibrahimovic.
The PSG footballer and FIFA Puskas award winner 2014 is holder of the prize having scooped the gong a record number of times.
Badou will fly over to Banjul for the first time after seven years tomorrow, a day after attending the Swedish Sports Gala.
His weeklong visit is aimed at celebrating his world title belt with Gambian fans and deliver sporting materials to Sports Council in a bid to help improve standards of domestic boxing in Gambia.
