Diamond’s 2006 Sports Personality

Saska Diamond, the 2006 Sports Personality vows to use her new title as a motivation as she pursues her Law degree at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus Barbados.

The national senior and under-23 netballer was the choice for the most prestigious accolade at the National Sports Awards held last Saturday at the Peace Memorial Hall.{{more}}

But it was a title that she least expected.

The 20 year old, who won the 2005 Junior Sportswoman award, said she was “ shocked” at hearing the news of her latest achievement.

“I was overwhelmed when my mother called me just after 12 Sunday morning and broke the news”, an elated Diamond revealed later that day in a telephone interview with SEARCHLIGHT from her apartment.

Diamond said even her triumph as Senior Sportswoman of the year came as a “surprise”.

“When I saw who I was coming up against Kineke (Alexander), Sophia Young and Geneille Greaves, I said never me”, she admitted.

Despite this, the La Croix resident is bubbling with excitement, as it has been the “greatest honour” she has received in her relatively short sporting career.

A fixture on the national senior team for the past three years, Diamond was voted the best mid court player at the 2006 OECS Under-23 tournament staged here, and which St. Vincent and the Grenadines regained the title.

The petite center court player has attributed her successes on the court to strong belief in Almighty God.

“ It’s all about self-discipline and determination and trust in God, as I grew up not being able to have the things that I often needed”, Diamond said.

She was high in praise for her mother Lucinta, whom she said has been an inspiration to her as they all struggled to make ends meet.

Diamond is advising young people to hold on to the good values of life.

“Life is what you make it, work towards your dreams”, were her advice.

Diamond, a former student of the St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College was the beneficiary of a ULP government scholarship extended to national sportsmen and women who have attained the requirements, an opportunity Diamond said she is “extremely thankful for”, and plans to make full use of.

Diamond also thrives on words of her former principal Sister Patricia Douglas “ Hard work and determination bring great success”.