Maro Itoje and Ellie Downie crowned at BEDSAs
By Dev Trehan
Last Updated: 25/03/18 5:03pm
Rugby union star Maro Itoje and gymnast Ellie Downie were the big winners at the 2018 British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards [BEDSAs] on Saturday night.
Itoje won his second straight European Rugby Champions Cup with Saracens last year and was also a key member of England's 2017 Six Nations winning team.
He landed the Sporting Equals Sportsman of the Year Award at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, ahead of taekwondo fighter Mahama Cho and boxers Chris Eubank Jr and Kal Yafai.
"It's a really good feeling," Itoje told Sky Sports News.
"I think the BEDSA's and the work that Sporting Equals do is amazing. To be recognised by your people is amazing.
Downie was crowned Royal Navy Sportswoman of the Year after becoming the first British gymnast to win All-Around gold at a major international championship when she won the European crown in Romania.
The award means Downie follows in the footsteps of sister Becky who won the inaugural trophy in 2014 after becoming a European and Commonwealth champion.
A great night for rugby union had promising Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith named Youth Sport Trust Sportsperson of the Year.
"This is an absolute honour," he told Sky Sports News. "I'm half-Filipino so being half-Asian this award is very close to my heart."
Harborne Rugby Football Club and Joseph Chamberlain College were presented with the Rugby Football Union Special Recognition Award.
Kadeena Cox picked up her second BEDSA award, winning UK Sport Inspirational Performance of the Year after winning three medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, including gold in the T38 400m.
Christian Malcolm, coach of GB's 4x100m relay team who overcame Usain's Bolt's Jamaican team to win 2017 World Championships gold, was named England Athletics Coach of the Year.
A Football Association Special Recognition trubute to the late Cyrille Regis was made by Regis' former West Brom team-mate Brendan Batson and overseen by awards host Sir Lenny Henry.
The British Army Unsung Hero was awarded to Tarsem Singh Cheema, who has dedicated 52 years to grassroots football.
The Jaguar Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to trailblazing FIFA ambassador and ex-footballer Permi Jhooti.
Jhooti was the first British Asian female to play professional football when she turned out for Fulham Ladies. She also featured for Millwall and Chelsea and was the inspiration behind the movie Bend It Like Beckham, directed by BAFTA winner Gurinder Chadha.
The England Wales Cricket Board Special Recognition Award went to Essex in the Community and Sport England's Community Sports Project of the Year award was won by Singh Sabha Slough Sports Centre.
Manchester Women's Sports Programmes won the Spirit of 2012 Connecting Communities Award and The Tennis Foundation Serves Community Tennis Project winner was the Sikh Welfare Awareness team.
The BEDSAs, hosted by the charity Sporting Equals, celebrate sporting excellence within Black Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, with the aim of inspiring the next generation of athletes.
