Sabonis named Lithuania's most influential sports figure for 3rd year running

VILNIUS - Lithuania's basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis has been named Lithuania's most influential sports figure for the third year in a row, according to the traditional poll of experts released by the Delfi.lt online news site on Friday. 

Zalgiris Kaunas coach Sarunas Jasikevicius came in second, followed by Daina Gudzineviciute, the president of the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee, in third place. 

The top three ranking is unchanged from last year. 

They scored 650, 561 and 398 points, respectively, in the poll conducted by the Reitingai magazine.

Rally driver Benediktas Vanagas, Olympic champions Virgilijus Alekna and Ruta Meilutyte, basketball player Jonas Valanciunas, tennis player Ricardas Berankis, Olympic champion Laura Asadauskaite-Zadneprovskiene, and Paralympic champion Mindaugas Bilius also made it to the top ten list. 

The Reitingai magazine polled 1,013 people from elite groups between June 20 and July 20. The survey was commissioned by Delfi.lt.

A separate public opinion poll carried out by the pollster Spinter Tyrimai also put Sabonis at the top of the ranking of Lithuania's most influential sports figures, followed by Jasikevicius at number two and Alekna at number three.