Territory’s best athletes to be honoured at the NT Sport Awards, with the likes of Danielle Ponter, Mal Rosas and Shadeene Evans all up for well-earned recognition

THE elite athletes of Territory sport are to be recognised and celebrated in the upcoming 2020 NT Sports Awards on Saturday, and the list includes football stars Danielle Ponter and Mal Rosas Jr.

Gold Coast Suns recruit and former Buffaloes star, Mal Rosas. Picture: Jerad Williams

THE elite athletes of Territory sport are to be recognised and celebrated in the upcoming 2020 NT Sports Awards on Saturday.

Nominees were selected based on performances in 2019, but due to the COVID-19 outbreak the ceremony was pushed back.

The ceremony will see a number of the Territory’s best celebrated with honours including Sportsperson of the Year, Junior Sportsperson of the Year, Coach of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

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Among those nominated for the prestigious NT Sportsperson of the Year award is AFLW Adelaide Crows and St Mary’s star Danielle Ponter.

Ponter also plays in the Darwin Basketball Association for Uni Rebels and in the NRL NT for Darwin Sistaz, the team enjoying an unbeaten premiership win in the 2020 season.

Australian cricketer Kane Richardson is another among the nominees, with the right-arm fast-medium bowler having frequently been named in national limited overs squads.

Richardson was named in the 2019 Cricket World Cup squad in England and this year was awarded with a contract ahead of the 2020-21 season.

St Mary’s and Adelaide Crows star, Danielle Ponter. Picture: Tymunna Clements AFLNT/Media

Also among the nominees is Justin Costello, the Territorian having a breakout couple of years in the touch football circuit and playing in the 2019 Touch Rugby World Cup winning side.

Ian Ford, senior director for sport and active recreation, said the ceremony was a great way to celebrate the Territory’s sportspeople.

“The awards is a great opportunity for the sport community to come together and recognise the excellence of those involved in Territory sport,” he said. “The calibre of sportspeople we have in the Territory is outstanding.”

The winner of the main award will join previous winners such as four-time AFL premiership winner Cyril Rioli Jr, Olympics hockey player Nova Peris and NRL winger James McManus, all former stars.

Borroloola product and Sydney FC Shadeene Evans celebrates a goal against Melbourne Victory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on November 17 last year. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Meanwhile, nominees for the junior award include Mal Rosas Jr who was picked up by the Gold Coast Suns, golf star Katelyn Rika, Declan MacGillivray for his rugby league efforts and Sydney FC star Shadeene Evans.