Paris Olympics medal winners Aaron-Wooi Yik, Lee are frontrunners for national award
Olympic bronze medal winners Lee Zii Jia, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. —AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The National Sportsman of the Year award is set to be a close contest between the country's top shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik for their success at last year's Olympic Games. They are seen as the favourites as they have been nominated for the award together with wushu exponent Wong Weng Soon, weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan, and pencak silat exponent Abdul Latif Maxzakir. World No. 10 singles player Zii Jia's 2024 highlight saw him clinch the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, while Aaron-Wooi Yik defended their men's doubles bronze medal in Paris, as well as winning silver at the Asian Team Championships and bronze at the Asian Championships. Aniq showed a stellar performance at the Paris Olympics by coming in fourth at his debut appearance, as well as winning two silver medals at the World Championships in Bahrain. Weng Soon had won a gold and bronze medal at the World Cup in China last year, while Abdul Latif took gold at the World Championships in Dubai. As for the best woman athlete, lawn bowler Nor Farah Ain Abdullah, who won gold at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in the Channel Islands, as well as bagging gold at the Asian Championships in Thailand, is the frontrunner along with bowler Sin Li Jane. Li Jane was named the Professional Women Bowling Association (PBWA) Tour Player of the Year for her superb run last year. Silat exponent Nor Farah Mazlan is also in contention after defending her title at the Dubai World Championships last year, as well as wushu exponent Tan Cheong Min, who won gold and silver at the Asian Championships in Macau. Cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri's two gold, one silver, and one bronze at the Asian Championships in Delhi puts her name in the running for the award. She also did well to set a new 200m individual sprint national record at the Paris Olympics. For the National Paralympic Sportsman award, the title will be contested between powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and para shuttler Cheah Liek Hou, who both defended their gold medals at the Paris Paralympics last year while Bonnie also broke the world record. They are joined by Paris Paralympics silver medallists Ziyad Zolkefli (shot putt) and Abdul Latif Romly (long jump), as well as bronze medallist Eddy Bernard. The National Paralympic Sportswoman sees the nomination of cyclists Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais and Nur Suraiya Mohd Zamri, lawn bowler Hasmunirah Malik, boccia player Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim, and shot putt athlete Noor Imanina Idris. The winners of each category are set to take home RM20,000 at the ceremony in Subang Jaya on Tuesday (May 13). The National Sports Awards will also see awards offered for Team of the Year (men's and women's), Coach of the Year (men's and women's), Sports Leadership Awards, Sports Figure Award, and Special Award.
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