Top Cypriot athletes for 2006 named

Cyprus‘ top athletes were honoured Tuesday night at a special ceremony, organised by the Sports Writers’ Association.
Tennis player Markos Baghdatis was elected 2006 best athlete in men’s sports events for his international career. The trophy was received by his mother Antri Baghatis because Markos is currently in Australia playing in Sydney International men’s singles.
Andri Eleftheriou was elected 2006 best athlete in women’s sports events. She won the gold medal in the skeet event in the Commonwealth Games and other medals in different world shooting games.
Ethnikos Ahnas, a refugee football club from the Turkish-occupied Akhna village, southeast of Nicosia, won the title of the 2006 best team, in recognition of the club’s successful course in the Intertoto and UEFA Cup competitions last year.
AEL basket team of Limassol took second place, in recognition of the club’s performance last year in FIBA Euro Cup and clinching the Cyprus basketball championship for a fourth consecutive year.
Last year’s football champion Apollon of Limassol took third place.
Addressing the ceremony, Cyprus House President Demetris Christofias assured he would continue to be a consistent friend and supporter of Sports Writers and Cyprus athletics to help them fulfill their high social role.
He wished that 2007 will bring more successes to Cyprus sport.
He noted that sport can act as a bridge between nations, promote peace and inter-cultural dialogue.
Cyprus Education and Culture Minister Pefkios Georgiades said that the Ministry and the state support efforts of Cypriot athletes and local teams in every possible ways.