Neither athlete was in attendance at the ceremony, which took place at the FMF Gymnasium.

Receiving the award on behalf of fly-half Veitokani was his dad Jolame Turaganiqali, who claimed it was a proud moment for him to witness his son being recognised nationally.

"I am really proud of my son for winning yet another award in recognition of his hard work through sports," he was reported as saying by FBC News.

"I am overwhelmed with joy.

"Though he is not here with us to celebrate this achievement, I’m sure he will be thrilled when we will relay him the good news after this ceremony."

Receiving the Sportswoman of the Year award on behalf of Rio 2016 Olympian Yee, currently undertaking a scholarship to study in Japan, was her father Henry.

"We can’t wait to go home and set up a Skype interview and inform our daughter about her achievement," he was reported as saying by FBC News.

"I am really proud of her. 

"She is currently in Japan studying and I can’t wait to see her reaction."

Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) won three of the other eight awards on offer.

Fijian Drua won the Sports Team of the Year award, while the team's manager Senirusi Seruvakula won the Coach of the Year prize.

The FRU also won the Sports Organisation of the Year gong.

Fiji Table Tennis ended the night with four awards as well, following success for Vicky Wu and Filomena Faliki in the respective Young Male and Female Athlete of the Year categories, and Anthony Ho in the Sports Administrator of the Year category. 

Others winners were Weightlifting Fiji’s Della Shaw, the Sports Volunteer of the Year, and The Fiji Times’ Jonacani Lalakobau, for Sports Photograph of the Year.

The Fiji Sports Awards were first held in 2011.

They were introduced by a partnership that involved the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, Fiji Sports Council and the Fiji National Sports Commission.

The awards recognise the contribution of athletes, administrators, journalists and photographers to sports in Fiji.