Fijian rugby star and Olympic hopeful take home big prizes at 2025 Army Sports Awards
Fijian rugby World Cup player Guardsman Manuqalo Komaitai and Eswatini Taekwondo athlete Guardsman Thander Dlamini emerged as the big winners at the 2025 Army Sports Awards, which took place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Gdsm Komaitai of the Irish Guards took home the Sportswoman of the Year award, after what was a year to remember for the Fijian rugby star, who had never played the sport of rugby before joining the British Army.
She was instrumental in the Army's win at the Inter Service Championships this year, scoring tries at both Allianz Stadium and Kingsholm Stadium.
Those performances then led to her call-up to the Fijiana squad in this year's women's Rugby World Cup, where she scored a try against Scotland.
Looking back on her incredible season, she said: "It was all unexpected, it just happened.
"It was a team effort. I was just there to finish it all. So credit to my teammates, I wouldn't be able to score those tries."
Sportsman of the Year went to Gdsm Dlamini of the Scots Guards, who is already making a big impact in the sport of WT Taekwondo for his home country Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland.
But after going through a short illness with cancer, for which he is now in remission, he has big ambitions to represent Eswatini at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
He said: "When I came back, it was quite hard because, after an illness, it took a lot for me. I couldn't even walk, so I've learned to walk, I've learned to listen, I'm basically starting from scratch.
"So now, the Olympics in 2028 is my next target."
Team of the Year went to the Army women's netball team, following another dominant year at this year's Inter Services Championships.
The Rising Star Award went to tennis star Officer Cadet Milly Wood, and Sports Official of the Year was awarded to boxing referee Staff Sergeant James Battle.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Mark Goodson, in recognition of his 50 years of service to Army Nordic and Biathlon.
Join Our Newsletter
