KUALA LUMPUR: Paris Olympic Games bronze medalists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are one of the frontunners to win the best athletes award at the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100Plus annual ceremony.
The shuttlers will be strongly challenged by equally impressive nominees tower runner Soh Wai Ching, bowler Sin Li Jane, wushu expert Tan Cheong Min and lawn bowler Farah Ain Abdullah.
Wai Ching is the undisputed king in tower run, winning several international titles while Li Jane dominated the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour by winning four titles last year, including the prestigious US Open title.
Farah won gold at the World Championships at the Channel Islands and Cheong Min triumphed at Macau Asian Championships.
Earlier this year, world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik had won the best male athlete of the year during the national award in April.
As for the title of the best para athlete, there will be keen competition between two contenders – shuttler Cheah Liek Hou and powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin.
Liek Hou retained his singles gold in Paris while Bonnie broke the world record en route to defending his gold.
The other candidates are Ziyad Zolkefli (F20 shot put), Latif Romly (T20 long jump) and Eddy Bernard (T44 sprint).
Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM), Norismadi Abd Manap said the winners of both main athlete awards will each receive RM10,000 in cash and a trophy at the awards ceremony, at Sunway Resort Hotel on July 14.
“The 2024 SAM-100Plus awards will also recognise excellence in sports journalism through six categories: best report-news (print media), best report-news (electronic media), best commentary (print media), best commentary (electronic media), best special report (Open), and best sports photography,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday (July 1).
Norismadi also announced that the SAM leadership unanimously agreed to increase the cash prize for the top journalism award, the Siebel award, from RM7,000 to RM10,000.
The cash prize for the popular sports commentator award has also been increased to RM3,000 from RM2,000 previously.
