Pe'er surges ahead in 'Post' sports personality poll

The 20-year-old has already garnered more than 40 percent of the vote. More than 800 people registered their choice on-line.

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
World number 17 Shahar Pe'er is odds-on to win The Jerusalem Post Israeli Sports Personality of the Year award next week. With three days gone since the poll opened on Tuesday, the 20-year-old has already garnered more than 40 percent of the vote. More than 800 people have registered their choice on-line or via e-mail. After a slow start, Israel captain Yossi Benayoun who plays English soccer club Liverpool has moved into second place on 21%. Chelsea manager Avraham Grant is currently in third position, close behind on 15%, while up-and-coming tennis star Dudi Sela is in fourth with 9%. Readers still have three more days to choose their Israeli favorite sports personality of the last 12 months. Russia and Efes Pilsen basketball coach David Blatt, sailors Udi Gal and Gidi Kliger and marathon runner Haile Satayin are still in the running. To vote for your favorite Israeli sports star, log on to the sports section of www.jpost.com or e-mail sports@jpost.com. The Jerusalem Post Israeli Sports Personality of the Year will be announced in the December 31 issue of the paper and on-line, along with the other winners of The Jerusalem Post's Sports Awards 2007, including Team of the Year and Young Sports Personality of the Year, which will be chosen by the Post's sports staff.