In a night of celebration, over 650 people packed into Eden Park on Thursday 23 November for the College Sport Auckland Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards. The event, first held in 1991, aims to recognise the outstanding sportsmen and women who have excelled in their chosen sports throughout 2023.
Sacha Earnest: Recognised for Downhill Mountain Biking Success
Sacha Earnest, an exceptional talent in Downhill Mountain Biking, was honoured with a World Championship medal for her remarkable performance at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Fort William, Scotland, where she earned a bronze medal and was part of a kiwi-trio that created history with a clean-sweep of the podium for Junior Downhill Women.
Coco Zhu's Remarkable Achievements in Badminton
Coco Zhu was named a finalist in the female badminton category. Her notable achievements throughout 2023 include being a member of the New Zealand U19 Squad, representing the Auckland U17 team that secured the runner-up position at the Badminton New Zealand Junior Team Championships and earning a spot in the Badminton New Zealand Junior League.
Daniel Hu: Dominance in Male Badminton
In the male badminton category, Daniel Hu not only secured a place as a finalist but went on to claim the top spot. His outstanding year included being the National U19 Singles Champion, a key member of the New Zealand Junior Team that clinched second place at the Oceania Junior Championships, as well as, individually, placing second in both the men’s singles and doubles. Daniel’s contributions to the Auckland U19 and Senior teams, which secured the runner-up position at their respective National Team Championships, further solidify his status as the badminton male winner for 2023.
Daniel’s success didn’t stop there; he was announced as one of eight finalists for the Overall Young Sportsman of the Year award. Reflecting on his achievements, Daniel expressed, “It feels great to be selected as Auckland’s top male badminton player for 2023, especially as this is my first time winning the award after being a finalist in previous years.”
“Being announced as a finalist for the major award, among other outstanding individuals in their chosen sports, made me feel very proud and grateful for what I have been able to achieve this year.”
Highlighting a pivotal moment in his career, Daniel shared, “I am most proud of my results at the Oceania Junior Championships this year because it was my first international tournament where I performed well and obtained a high ranking.”
An incredible year for sports at ACG Parnell
ACG Parnell College Principal Damian Watson expressed his pride, saying “It was great to see Sacha, Coco and Daniel being recognised for their sporting achievements at the Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards. We are particularly proud of Sacha’s achievements on the world stage, and having Daniel named as one of the finalists for the Overall Young Sportsman of the Year award is a first for ACG Parnell.”
“While we are proud of our students’ sporting successes at a regional, national and international level, being involved and having fun is also important. It has been excellent to see a big increase in participation in sports this year and we’re already taking positive steps to see these numbers increase going into 2024.”
