KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — National track cycling champion Mohd Azizul Hasni Awang and national powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Anak Gustin were named winners of the 2019 Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS Best Athlete and Best Para Athlete awards respectively today.
Both athletes took home a trophy and RM10,000 cash in prizes each presented by the Sports and Youth Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican in a ceremony held at Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara.
Mohd Azizulhasni defeated several top athletes such as Farah Ann Abd Hadi (gymnast), S. Kisona (badminton), Julian Yee (ice-skating), and Loh Choon How (wushu).
The best achievement of the Terengganu-born rider last year was winning the World Series Track Championship in Cambridge last December by beating former world champions Shane Perkins and Matthew Glaetzer.
Nicknamed as “The Pocket Rocketman’’, he also clinched the men’s sprint gold medal at the 2019 Asian Track Cycling Championships in South Korea last year.
“I would like to thank SAM for choosing me as the winner this year. Of course, I will make this award as a source of motivation for the preparations for next year’s Olympic Games.
“The situation is very challenging but I will not give up as it will instead strengthen my resolve to realise the dream of the first gold medal for Malaysians,” said Azizulhasni through a video recording from Melbourne, Australia.
This is the third time Mohd Azizulhasni was crowned SAM-100PLUS Best Athlete after receiving it in 2009 and 2017.
Meanwhile, Bonnie’s victory has broken the dominance of athletics after the 20-year-old Sarawakian was crowned as the Best Para Athlete. He beat S.Suresh and Wiro Julin (archery) and Muhd Ziyad Zolkefli (athletics).
“I would like to thank SAM for this award. I did not expect that I would be selected to receive this award even though there were many other national athletes who had performed well last year
“This award will be a boost to me and my friends to continue to excel and garner more successes at international level,” said Bonnie through a video recording from Sarawak.
Bonnie created history after he bagged two gold medals at the World Para Powerlifting Championship in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan last year.
The SAM-100PLUS award presentation ceremony also saw sports journalists won awards in six categories, namely Best News Reports (Print Media), Best News Reports (Electronic Media), Best News Reviews (Print Media), Best News Reviews (Electronic Media), Best Special Reports (Open) and Best Sports Photography.
Journalists Wan Norbazly Wan Azmi and Azri Abd Malik from Astro Arena were crowned recipients of the Siebel Award and took home RM7,000 and trophy.
Full list of winners:
Best Athlete: Azizul Hasni Awang (Track Cycling)
Best Para Athlete: Bonnie Bunyau Anak Gustin (Powerlifting)
Best News Report (Print Media): Aida Adilah Mat (Berita Harian)
Best News Report (Electronic Media): Shah Putra Taib Ahmad/Abdul Halim Mohd Yusoff (RTM)
Best News Commentary (Print Media): Mohd Firdaus Mohd Hashim (Harian Metro)
Best News Commentary (Electronic Media): Mohd Zulhelmi Zainal Alam (Astro Arena)
Best Special Report (Open): Wan Norbazly Wan Azmi/Azri Abd Malik (Astro Arena)
Best Sports Photograph: Mohd Khairol Rizal Buhari (CNS Sports Talk)
Siebel Award : Wan Norbazly Wan Azmi/Azri Abd Malik (Astro Arena)
— Bernama
