125 nominations for Sarawak Sports Awards

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Kameri (centre) announced yesterday that 125 nominations were received for the Sarawak Sports Award 2013/2014. He is flanked by Lucas (left) and Abdul Haris at the press conference.

Kameri (centre) announced yesterday that 125 nominations were received for the Sarawak Sports Award 2013/2014. He is flanked by Lucas (left) and Abdul Haris at the press conference.

Jackie Wong

Jackie Wong

KUCHING: National diving queen Pandelela Rinong Pamg is in line to win her third straight Sarawak Sportswoman of the Year award, leading this year’s nominations in the company of other top national athletes like Diana Bong Siong Lin and Erika Kong Chia Chia.

Bong was a 2013 World Wushu Championships gold medallist while Erika has been a rising star in swimming.

Nominees for the Sarawak Sportsman of the Year include 2015 Sea Games wushu gold medalist Loh Jack Chang, last year’s Asian bodybuilding champion Buda Anchah and hammer thrower Jackie Wong Siew Cheer who smashed the national record with a throw of 63.71m in March.

This year’s Sarawak Sports Award for 2013/2014 had received a total of 125 nominations – 70 men and 55 women – in all categories.

10 athletes have been nominated for the Sportsman and eight for Sportswoman of the Year. The Most Promising Sportsman and Sportswoman received a combined total 12 nominations while the Best Sports Coach category listed five male and one female nominees.

Other categories included Paralympic Sportsman, Paralympic Sportwoman, Best Paralympic Sports Coach, Best Sports Team (Men), Best Sports Team (Women), Best Sports Leadership, Best Sports Association, Best Sports Writer (Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese language) and Best Sports Photographer.

A special Sarawak Sports Personality award is also expected to be presented during the gala on Oct 20 in Miri.

“This award is to show the state’s appreciation to individuals, sports associations and organisations that had contributed significantly towards sports development. It is also to express our gratitude to athletes who have achieved success at state, national as well as international level.

“In addition, the award also recognises the contribution of local journalists and media photographers who have given much coverage to the country’s sporting scene,” Social Development Ministry permanent secretary Kameri Affandi told a press conference at Baitulmakmur building here yesterday.

Also present were Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) acting director Lucas Kalang Laeng and state Youth and Sports director Abdul Haris Ishak.

Kameri added that about 800 guests are expected to attend this year’s award ceremony with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem as the guest-of-honour.

The Sarawak sportsman and sportswoman of the year winners stand to win RM5,000 in cash prizes while most promising athletes will bring home RM2,000 each. Best paralympic athlete male and female will be awarded RM2,500 while best coaches and best sports leadership stand to win RM1,500. Winning journalists and press photographers would also be awarded RM1,500 each. The amount for best men and women’s team has yet to be determined at press time.

Pandelela had been crowned Sarawak Sportswoman of the Year in the past two editions held in 2010 and 2013. The last winner of the Sportsman award was former national diver Bryan Nickson Lomas who won the 2011/2012 title.