Wits Fencing duo clinch WSA Sportsman of the Year double
- Tshepiso Mametela
The Wits Fencing Clubs' Harry Saner and Ayanda Tuku once again showed their mettle when the pair stole the show at the year's recent Wits Sport Awards. This as they emerged the respective recipients of the University's biggest male individual sporting prizes, Sportsman of the Year and Junior Sportsman of the Year.
The fencing stars danced, dazzled and shone on the mat at the 2020 Junior African Fencing Championships held in Ghana early in the year, stating a strong case, on their way to being named the eventual best sporting men at Wits. For Tuku, who oozes with modesty, the award pays credence to the love and dedication he encapsulates for the sport, which like sailing, carries its own weight among the smaller sports disciplines.
"[Winning the award] has to be my biggest University highlight, thus far, and it came at a point when I least expected it. Being shortlisted as the finalist was already big news for me. To actually find out that I am a winner was just mind-blowing," said Tuku. "If anything, I wasn't even expecting to get a single award. I was jumping all around the house when I received the shortlist email from Wits Sport. It had been the greatest news I had received that week.
"It is one of the greatest things that have happened in my sports career and I think it just goes to show that hard work does really pay off. Also, it was just an affirmation that all the work that I put in the fundraiser, at the gym and during competitions, was actually getting recognised," said Tuku, who added, "I hope that this award is motivation for a lot of young Africans who are in my position. I hope that this shows them that it is really possible."
Ayanda Tuku 2020 Wits Junior Sportsman of the Year
Meanwhile, Saner, the stealthily world number 93-ranked fencer for the junior men's foil at the time of the Ghana competition, accepted his prize with the same grace which has seen him make a mercurial rise through the combat sport. "It is with great joy that I accept this award for myself and for Fencing. It is a founding sport of the modern Olympics with a long and rich history that I am proud to be a part of," said Saner. "It feels amazing! I am so appreciative of the Wits community for giving me this award. I am extremely grateful for the people who have supported me throughout my sporting journey. This award recognizes and validates the grit it takes to overcome the difficulties and challenges that being a student sportsperson presents. It is fuel to my Fencing fire and yet another gem of positive reinforcement that is so valuable to me and the Wits Fencing community."
On the question of how he hopes to use his influence to inspire others, Saner said there is no one singular formula for success. His motivation for others, particularly the student- athletes of the wider University realm, is "it doesn't matter who you are". The fencer said: "I hope to show others that this success does not just come from mindless repetition. It comes from being mindful and actively engaging in something you love ... By sharing what it took to excel in my sport – the training, the sweat, the tears – I can inspire the sportspeople of South Africa to believe in themselves and pursue success in what they love."
Harry Saner 2020 Wits Sportsman of the Year