KUALA LUMPUR: Two Datuks, both ranked world number in their respective sports and incidentally both from Penang, are the frontrunners for the 2011 National Sportsman and Sportswoman awards.
Shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei, ranked world number one in badminton and world number in women’s squash, Datuk Nicol David, have again emerged as the favourites for the awards which will see a 100 per cent increase in prize money.
Based on the nomination for the awards, Nicol, winner of the 2010 National Sportswoman award and Chong Wei, the winner in 2009, are not expected to face stiff competition.
In the men’s category, Chong Wei will face Sazali Abdul Samad (body building), Cheng Chu Sian (archery), Bryan Nickson Lomas (diving), Adrian Ang Hsien Loong (tenpin bowling) and Leong Tze Wai (karate).
The women’s short listed candidates are Nicol, Nur Suryani Muhamed (shooting), Fatehah Mustapa (cycling) and Pandelela Rinong (diving).
The award this year will see a 100 per cent increase in the prize money for the winners since both winners will receive RM20,000 compared with the RM10,000 last year.
The prize money for winners in the Men’s and Women’s Team categories will also receive an increased prize purse of RM20,000 or RM3,000 (each team member) compared with RM10,000 or RM1,500 (each team member) in previous years.
Youth and Sports Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Mohid Mohamed who chaired the selection panel meeting for the awards today said eight categories would be contested.
“The selection has short listed candidates for the respective awards but their names will only be announced on the night of the awards ceremony,” he told reporters here yesterday.
He said the awards night to be held at the Palace of the Golden Horses on April 17, would be graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah.
Throughout 2011, Chong Wei who has held the world number one spot for 40 months since 2008, won seven international titles, including six Super Series and Super Premier titles.
Nicol, six-time world champion, on the other hand won eight international titles, including the World Open and retained her world number one spot for more than five consecutive years.
The Penang lass was also WISPA Players of the Year consecutively since 2005. —Bernama