Jian Fang Lay and Holly Nicolas Win Player of the Year Awards

The National Selection Committee are pleased to announce that Jian Fang Lay (Victoria) has been named as the 2017 Victor Barna Memorial Trophy winner as the National Senior Player of the Year, and that Holly Nicolas (Western Australia) has been named as the 2017 Michael Szabados Award winner as the National Junior Player of the Year.

Lay, a seven time Commonwealth Games medalist, had an outstanding year in 2017. She claimed all the biggest tournaments on offer, namely she won the Oceania Women’s Singles Championship, the Australian National Senior Women’s Championship and the National Senior Women’s Top 10 Tournament. On top of that she had strong performances at the 2017 World Championships where she defeated the number 1 ranked Indian player 4-0 and also took one game off the world ranked number 5 athlete. Lay’s 2017 results bodes well for her 2018 campaign and she’s already hit the ground running after winning the 2018 Qualification Tournament for the Australian Commonwealth Games Team. No doubt when all countries gather on the Gold Coast in March she’ll lead Australia’s charge once again.

Nicolas capped off a stellar junior career with her unrivalled performances in 2017. She claimed the Oceania Junior Girls Singles crown, remained undefeated in the team event at the Oceania Junior Championships, she claimed the Under 18 Junior Girls National Singles Championship, she had a 19-1 win-loss record in the team event at the Australian National Junior Championships and had a 4-3 win-loss record in the team event at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Italy. Nicolas’ junior career will stand her in good stead as she now aims to make her way into the National Women’s Team.

TTA congratulates both Jian and Holly on their achievements and for being worthy winners of these prestigious awards.

Photo credits: Getty Images (Jian Fang Lay), Remy Gros (Holly Nicolas)