Inzikuru tops USPA 2000 poll

* Gold medallist best, Mubiru beats Mukasa to soccer vote By Leo Kabunga World junior athletics Championship gold medallist Dorcus Inzikuru was yesterday unanimously voted Sports personality of 2000 by the Uganda Sports Press Association. The sports journalists carried out the poll at their monthly general assembly at Tourist Hotel in Kampala. The 19-year-old Mvara SS student became the first Ugandan woman to win a major international athletics event when she won the 5000m gold in Santiago, Chile October. Inzikuru out-sprinted Meseret Defar of Ethiopia in the home straight to win in 16 minutes 21.32 seconds. She holds two national records - 3000m in nine minutes 15.66 seconds and 5000m in 16 minutes 05.05 seconds. President Yoweri Museveni congratulated Inzikuru for the feat during his national tour of Arua last month. The last Ugandan to win an international athletics gold medal was Julius Acon, who won the 1500m at the World Junior Championships in Portugal 1992. But Uganda's biggest athletics prize was the gold medal John Akii-Bua won at the Munich Olympics in 1972, which remains the lone gold the country has won. Former SC Villa striker Hassan Mubiru, who moved to Express in the close season, was voted Footballer of the Year, beating Villa striker and 2000 Nile Special Super League top scorer Andrew Mukasa by eight votes. The national soccer team, Cranes, were voted best for December for winning the four-nation Castle Lager Cup in Nairobi and the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Kampala. Sports scribes also elected various sportsmen and women who excelled in different sports disciplines. They will be honoured at a colourful ceremony sponsored by Nile Breweries Limited January 21 in Kampala. Nile Breweries replaced BAT Uganda last year as sponsors of the association. The selected sportsmen and women from various disciplines were; Football - Hassan Mubiru Motorrally - Charles Lubega Boxing - Jackson Asiku Athletics - Dorcus Inzikuru Cricket - Benjamin Musoke Golf - Deo Akope Basketball - Wiliblot Okecho Netball - Betty Namukasa Hockey - Eric Tabisibwa Rugby - Herbert Wafula Tennis - Edith Wamalwa Table tennis - Mary Musoke Chess - Stephen Kawuma W.lifting - Moses Kimbowa Volleyball - Musa Wantante Squash - Issa Nyanzi Motorcycling - Arthur Blick B.building - Isaac Nsumba Ends.