Sports enthusiasts have actively participated in selecting the honorees, casting their votes via the radiomarcagranada.com website until May 3. A panel of sports journalists, following deliberations at the Vulcano restaurant-pizzeria on Calle Séneca, pre-selected candidates across seven distinct categories.
Among the special accolades, Ana Alonso will receive the ‘Marca Granada’ award, while the Provincial Council of Granada will be honored with the ‘Sports Promotion’ award for its support of events such as the Spanish Futsal Cup and stages of the La Vuelta a España cycling race. The ‘Special Award’ will go to Eurogranada CF, marking the fifth anniversary of their continental journey under the management of Diego Martínez.
In the ‘best club’ category, contenders include Granada CF Femenino, following another historic season; Granada FS Femenino Fundación UAPO, recently awarded the ‘Flag of Andalucía’; and UD Maracena, celebrating 80 years of history and their participation in the Copa del Rey against Valencia CF.
The ‘best athlete’ award has been renamed the ‘María Pérez Award’ in tribute to the race walker from Orce. Nominees include futsal player José Raya, European champion with Spain; basketball player Álvaro Cárdenas, a senior international with ‘La Familia’; and high jumper Una Stancev.
For ‘best coach’, recognition goes to Juan Francisco Funes for his distinguished career with Málaga, Javier Argüelles as Ana Alonso’s coach, and Paco Hernández, the national rugby sevens coach.
Young talents nominated in the promising category include Granada CF Femenino footballer Vera Molina, an international with Spain; basketball player Cristina Sánchez, from the University of Arkansas and a member of Spain’s junior national teams; and wrestler Encarni Méndez, the U-20 Spanish champion.
The ‘Sports Legends’ selected by the jury are Fernando Rivas, a badminton coach who mentored Carolina Marín; Enrique Porta, the sole ‘pichichi’ in Granada CF’s history; and athlete Paco Sánchez Vargas, who achieved a fifth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Moscow 80 Olympics.
Finally, the ‘Ángel Vacas’ award for overcoming adversity will be contested by Audrey Pascual, winner of four medals at the Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympic Games; Teresa Moya, Spain’s only blind rhythmic gymnast; and the Escuela Escorpiones, an inclusive rugby school in Granada.
