Novak Djokovic, Barcelona win 2012 Laureus Sports Awards

PanARMENIAN.Net - Novak Djokovic has won the top individual honour at the 2012 Laureus Sports Awards. The top-ranked Djokovic won sportsman of the year at the ceremony in London, one week after the Serbian triumphed at the Australian Open to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three consecutive Grand Slam titles.

Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, who won the 5,000-and 10,000-metre titles at the world championships last year, took the sportswoman's award, Vancouver Sun reported.

Spanish and European football champions Barcelona won the Team of the Year award while Northern Ireland golf celebrated two gongs.

Rory Mcllroy clinched the World Breakthrough of the Year title after winning the US Open and Darren Clarke collected the Comeback of the Year following a maiden British Open Championship triumph at his 20th attempt.

In other awards, South Africa's 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius collected the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability and American surfer Kelly Slater was named Action Sportsperson of the Year.

Manchester United and England football great Sir Bobby Charlton was given a Lifetime Achievement Award but couldn't collect it in person due to a recent illness, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson accepting it on his behalf, according to AFP.