Russian footballer Eduard Ramonov has been voted the Allianz Athlete of the Month for June ©The FA

Eduard Ramonov has been rewarded for helping Russia defend their Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships by being voted the Allianz Athlete of the Month for June, it was announced today. 

Ramonov scored in five of six matches, and was voted by the coaches as the most valuable player of the tournament at St George's Park in Burton on Trent in England last month. 

His team also received the fair play award, voted by match officials on a match-by-match basis.

Russia went undefeated in the tournament, beating Ukraine 1-0 in the final.

Ramonov received 49 per cent of votes in the poll.

Also nominated were Portuguese boccia player Domingos Vieira, who got 37 per cent, and Russian wheelchair dancer Maksim Sedakov with eight per cent.

British swimmer Bethany Firth, who got five per cent, and Dutch wheelchair tennis player Jiske Griffioen, with one per cent were the other shortlisted candidates. 

Ramonov is the first footballer to win the award this year.

He joins American Nordic skier Andrew Soule, Dutch snowboarder Chris Vos, Ukrainian table tennis player Maksym Nikolenko, British boccia player Nigel Murray and Italian sprinter Martina Caironi as a winner in 2015. 



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July 2015:
 Russian footballer leads nominations for IPC Allianz Athlete of the Month for June
June 2015: Paralympic and world champion sprinter Martina Caironi 
May 2015: British boccia star claims IPC Athlete of the Month accolade 
April 2015: Ukrainian table tennis star scoops IPC Athlete of the Month prize  
March 2015: Snowboarder Vos named February International Paralympic Committee Athlete of the Month