Subang Jaya: Professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia and Asian doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are among five nominees shortlisted for the national 2024 Sportsman of the Year award.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the National Sports Council (NSC) announced that the other nominees for the Sportsman of the Year award include wushu exponent Wong Weng Soon, weightlifter Aniq Kasdan, and silat athlete Abdul Latif Maxzakir. The Sportswoman of the Year category features tenpin bowler Sin Li Jane, lawn bowler Nor Farah Ain Abdullah, wushu athlete Tan Cheong Min, cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, and silat exponent Nor Farah Mazlan.
The 2024 National Sports Awards (ASN) Selection Committee, chaired by Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, received 148 nominations across 11 categories from national sports associations, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), and the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC). The NSC noted that the shortlisted candidates were selected based on their international performances throughout 2024.
In the National Paralympic Sportsman category, powerlifting athlete Bonnie Bunyau Gustin leads the list, joined by para athletes Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Datuk Abdul Latif Romly, and Eddy Bernard, along with para badminton star Cheah Like Hou. For the National Paralympic Sportswoman award, nominees include Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais and Nur Suraiya Muhamad Zamri from para cycling, boccia athlete Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim, para lawn bowls athlete Hasmunirah Malik, and para athletics competitor Noor Imanina Idris.
Winners of the Sportsman, Sportswoman, and Paralympic Sportsman and Sportswoman awards will each receive a trophy, a challenge trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of RM20,000. ASN will also present seven other awards, including National Men’s and Women’s Teams, National Men’s and Women’s Coaches, the Sports Icon Award, the Sports Leadership Award, and a Special Award.
Introduced in 1966, the ASN is Malaysia’s highest sporting honour, annually recognising the excellence of athletes, coaches, officials, and national sports associations. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, is expected to attend the 2024 ASN ceremony scheduled for tomorrow at the Dorsett Grand Hotel, Subang Jaya.