Athletics Fiji is highly tipped to be the big winners at the FASANOC Sports Awards on Friday.

Sprint king Niko Verekauta and Queen Makelesi Bulikiobo is likely to walk away with the Male and Female athlete of the Year awards.

The duo have performed extremely well last season winning many medals for Fiji at the Pacific Games and also achieving good results in other International events.

But Verekauta may face challenges from swimmer Calum Liew, Iliesa Irava from Fiji Power lifting, Warren Yee from Squash Fiji and Fiji soccer team striker Roy Krishna.

They all have been nominated for the Male of the Year awards.

Bulikiobo is the front-runner in the female category but standing in her way are Swimming Fiji's Caroline Puamau, who won 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze at the Pacific Games and Helen Pahulu from Fiji Power lifting. Pahulu in December last year won 5 gold medals at the Commonwealth Power lifting Championship.

The FASANOC Sports Awards will be held on Friday at the Raffles Tradewinds Convention Centre in Lami.