Ayesha Jones was the winner of the Sporting Equals Awards Young Sportsperson of the Year Award 2023, sponsored by the Youth Sport Trust. On the evening of the awards, Ayesha was presented with her trophy by Youth Sport Trust Ambassador Michael Gunning and Member of the Youth Sport Trust Youth Board Abhishna Yogarajan.
Ayesha has an incredible competitive record. At just 16, Ayesha set the Commonwealth Youth Games javelin record with a throw of 52.79 m, which added a metre to her own previous all-time best. Since the awards, she has had an impressive start to her 2024 season competing, winning the gold medal in the UK Winter Long Throws Championships and a bronze medal in the Vaxjo International European Competition this year.
As she continues to reach new heights, Ayesha Jones is undoubtedly set to be a name to remember in the world of athletics, and her triumph at the 2023 Sporting Equals Awards is an honour to her sporting ability. Recently, Ayesha became a Kukri Sport Ambassador for Team England in partnership with England Athletics, saying of the partnership, “I feel honoured to have Kukri’s trust and belief in what I do.”
Alongside Ayesha Jones, the two finalists, Desharne Bent-Ashmeil and Rowin Manjit Singh Leil II, are also breaking through their sport in British diving and British wrestling respectively. Desharne Bent-Ashmeil is the first black British diver to represent Team GB, winning silver in the World Junior Diving Championships and gold in the European Games. Moreover, Rowin is a British champion wrestler who won three domestic opens in the last year and coaches the sport at their club. We wish all of our finalists the best in what is set to be an amazing career ahead of them.
