New Team Bath Netball Super League star Jayda Pechova shortlisted for SportsAid One-to-Watch Award ahead of Fast5 World Series

New Team Bath Netball Super League recruit Jayda Pechova has been shortlisted for SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award.

Previous winners of the honour include Tom Daley, Courtney Tulloch, Amber Hill, Morgan Lake and Alex Yee.

Around 1,000 young athletes from 60 different sports receive support from the national charity every year but only 10 are in line for the One-to-Watch Award and Pechova is thrilled to be on that shortlist.

“I was so shocked, I didn’t even expect it,” said the 18-year-old defender, who has joined Team Bath from London Pulse for the 2023 Super League season. “I feel like I’ve had a great journey this year but I’ve never put it in perspective and being nominated made me realise how much I’ve achieved. It’s really exciting to know I’m going to be up alongside those kind of athletes in the future. I’m really proud.”

Pechova, who began studying Sports Performance at the University of Bath last month and is part of the BUCS 1st team squad, is currently in New Zealand where she is preparing to represent the Vitality Roses in the Fast5 Netball World Series, taking place on 5-6 November.

She was selected for the Future Roses programme earlier this year having impressed internationally at U19 and U21 level, helping England win the Netball Europe title in both age groups. She also made her Super League debut for Pulse and was a key figure in their successful NPL Grand Final-winning team.

Also nominated for the One-to-Watch Award are Charlotte Jenman (judo), Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker (para athletics), Gabrielle Holland (modern pentathlon), Lucy Garlick (climbing), Marcus Chute (rowing), Marfa Ekimova (rhythmic gymnastics), Mark Swan (powerlifting), Poppy Maskill (para swimming) and Yemi Mary John (athletics).

The winner of SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award will be revealed at the charity’s Celebrate the Next event, supported by Royal Bank of Canada, in London on Thursday 17 November. Visit www.sportsaid.org.uk for further information.

Tickets are on sale now to see Jayda Pechova and her Team Bath Netball Super League team-mates in action during the 2023 season – click here to find out more.

Top picture credit: Morgan Harlow