PETALING JAYA, May 13 — National badminton men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik jointly won the Sportsman of the Year award at the National Sports Awards (ASN) ceremony here today.
The title, earned for the second time won by the 2022 world champions, saw them fend off challenges from professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia, national weightlifter Mohamad Aniq Kasdan, wushu athlete Wong Weng Soon, and pencak silat exponent Abdul Latif Maxzakir.
Last year, the world number five pair defended their Olympic bronze medal for the second consecutive time by defeating Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark, 16-21, 22-20, 21-19, at the Paris Olympics.
National lawn bowl champion Nor Farah Ain Abdullah was named National Sportswoman, beating Sin Li Jane (tenpin bowling), Tan Cheong Min (wushu), Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri (cycling) and Nor Farah Mazlan (pencak silat).
The world number one lawn bowler made history by becoming Malaysia’s first female lawn bowler to become National Sportswoman.
Nor Farah stole the limelight by winning gold in the women’s individual event at the World Indoor Bowls Championships 2024 in Guernsey, Channel Islands.
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, presented the National Sportsman and Sportswoman awards, respectively, to Aaron-Wooi Yik, represented by Badminton Association of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh, and Nor Farah.
Aaron-Wooi Yik were absent from the ceremony as they are participating in the Thailand Open until Sunday.
Meanwhile, national powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin was named National Paralympic Athlete for his achievement in defending his gold medal in the men’s 72kg category at the Paris Paralympics. This is his third time winning the title, having previously earned it in 2023 and 2021. He defeated three contenders — Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Datuk Abdul Latif Romly, and Eddy Bernard (athletics), and Cheah Liek Hou (badminton).
2024 Lawn Bowls World Championship winner Hasmunirah Maliki was also named National Paralympic Athlete after defeating four other candidates — cyclists Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais and Nur Suraiya Muhamad Zamri, Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim (boccia), and Noor Imanina Idris (athletics).
— Bernama
