After two weeks of polling, the votes have been counted with Barcelona, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Al Ahli, Yousif Mirza and Betlhem Belayneh your leading lights from a brilliant 12 months.
International Team of the Year – BARCELONA
International Sportsman of the Year – NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Another iconic year for the Serb who enjoyed his most prolific and successful 12 months on the ATP Tour: three grand slam titles from four final reached – only the third man after Roger Federer and Rod Laver to do so – six Masters championships and more than $21m in prizemoney. He suffered just six defeats all year and was a French Open crown short of what surely would have been considered a perfect season.
International Sportswoman of the Year – SERENA WILLIAMS
We’re witnessing history seemingly every time Serena Williams steps onto the court and the American continues to bring it every single tournament, even at the age of 34 – when most of her contemporaries would be considering retirement. Disappointment came from her early exit at the US Open, denying her the calendar grand slam but the omens are there that if she can stay fit, 2016 promises to be just as successful for her.
Regional Team of the Year – AL AHLI
Having surrendered their AGL crown, Al Ahli found salvation in the AFC Champions League with a stunning run all the way to the final. They won a thriller on away goals against domestic rivals Al Ain in the last 16, cruised past Naft Tehran in the quarters before Kwon Kyung-won's last-gasp strike knocked out Al Hilal in the semis. There was no shame in a 1-0 aggregate loss to Guangzhou Evergrande in the final and 10 AGL wins from 12 have capped a fine 12 months.
Regional Sportsman of the Year – YOUSIF MIRZA
Yousif Mirza is at the fore of a cycling boom in the UAE and he has triumphed in the face of adversity this year. Fresh from booking a spot in the road race at the Rio Olympics with silver at the Asian Championships he helped Al Nasr win the President's Cup only to be injured in a motorcycle accident the very next day. But he returned in fine fashion in October, winning a silver medal in the Points race at the ACC Track Asia Cup in Bangkok.
Regional Sportswoman of the Year – BETHLEHEM BELAYNEH
In June middle-distance runner Betlhem Belayneh overcame some poor form to successfully defend her Asian Athletics Championships 1500m title in Wuhan, China. Not content with just one gold medal, Betty added the 5000m title as well. The Ethiopian-born runner has twice this year – in Stockholm and Heusden-Zolder – run below 4:26 minutes, the Olympic qualifying time for the 1500m and has her sights firmly set on winning a place at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
