Ford Fiesta Rally2 driver Karan Patel is the LG Sports Personality-of-the-Month of
October 2022 following brilliant displays at continental level.
The former 85cc East African Motocross Champion was voted the winner of the coveted
award with his fourth win of the 2022 FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) series
during the season-closing prestigious Zambia International Rally in Lusaka.
In Zambian capital , Karan’s adroitness in the Fiesta saw him beat eventual African
champion Leroy Gomes of Zambia to second position while McRae Kimathi sealed the
podium dash in his M-Sport Poland prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3.
In winning the October award, Nairob-based Karan took home a 50 inch NanoCell TV
worth Kshs. 110,000 courtesy of sponsors LG Electronics East Africa.
Karan beat a strong field of nominees among them Ruth Chepngetich who defended
her Chicago Marathon title in a dominant in 2hr 14min 18sec and 14 seconds short of
compatriot Brigid Kosgei’s mark.
Ruth Chepngetich defended her Chicago Marathon title in a dominant display on
Sunday, breaking the tape in 2hr 14min 18sec, as her compatriot Benson Kipruto
cruised to victory in the men’s race in 2:04:24.
Others were handballer Yusuf Pwoka for his good performance during the Africa Under
18 Handball for Kenya despite quarterfinal elimination, Hamza Anwar for winning the
ARC Junior title and Frrankfut
Karan was all smiles and here is what he had to say about his winning experience in
Zambia: “It’s always a great feeling winning individual awards. But we were not too
disappointed for finishing second overall in the 2022 FIA African Rally series, I mean,
we have had a good season; we put in hard work and won four out of six events..”
Speaking while awarding the winner, William Kamore, the Content manager LG East
Africa, said their partnership has over the years boosted players’ morale to target higher
limits in sports across the country.
“We are grateful to have had the opportunity to support SJAK and our sports
personalities over the last seven years. Within this period, we managed to reward many
of the said personalities and empower them in their journey to the top.”
Karan becomes the fifth motorsport personality to lay his hands on the LG sponsored
award after multiple Africa Champion Manvir Baryan, Junior WRC star McRae Kimathi,
Nakuru’s Onkar Rai and most recently Maxine Wahome.
Manvir got his mitts on the SPOM June trophy in 2018 for his stellar drive on ARC
Zambia outing, McRae Kimathi for his WRC3 podium on WRC Rally Sweden 2022
where he also became the first Kenyan to finish a rally on snow and indeed Onkar and
Maxine who both racked up the third tier WRC3 on WRC Safari editions of 2022 and
2022 respectively.
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