Malaysia’s Welson celebrates after winning the 200m freestyle during the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. — Reuters photo
Pandelela Rinong
KUCHING: Olympic diver Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Olympic swimmer Welson Sim Wee Sheng are the leading favourites to win the Sportswoman and Sportsman awards at the Sarawak Sports Awards presentation at Riverside Majestic Hotel tonight.
Pandelela has won the Sportswoman award for three times 2009-2010, 2011-2012 and 2013-2014.
Her bronze medal win in the London Olympics (2012) and silver medal win in the Rio Olympics (2016) has put her in a class of her own.
At the recent SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, she won a gold medal in the mixed team category while another Sarawak diver Traisy Vivien Tukiet also won gold in a team event.
Pandelela’s rivals for the award are Commonwealth Games swimmer Erika Kong Jia Jia and swimmer Angela Chieng Chui Fei and taekwondo exponent Nurul Nur Hafizza Mahli.
Welson looks poised to win the Sportsman award as he had set a national record of 3:49.48s in the men’s 400m freestyle at the Mane Nostrum Tour international swimming championships in Monaco and in the process upset Rio Olympics gold medallist Mack Horton of Australia.
He also set up a Games record of 3:50.26s in the 400m at SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur although his double gold feat will not be counted for the awards which is for the year 2015-2016.
National wushu exponent Loh Jack Chang and taekwondo exponent Rudy Grocer are the other nominees for this award.
It would be a fitting return for Grace Wong Xiu Mei, the bronze medallist in the two previous SEA Games in 2013 and 2015 who not only won the gold for the first time but also broke the national hammer throw record.
The sports awards presentation for 16 categories will be a gathering of the state’s top athletes whose performances will be based on the years 2015 and 2016.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Snowdan Lawan, permanent secretary to the ministry Datu Ik Pahon Joyik and other state cabinet ministers are expected to attend the grand occasion held to honour athletes, sports leaders, sports associations and individuals as well as the sports journalists and photographs for their contribution to the advancement of sports in the state and country.
However, most of the awards nominees will not be around especially those who have participated at the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 19-30.
A spokesman of the organising committee said they had other commitments.
Other awards include the Most Promising Sportsman and Sportswoman, Para Sportsman and Sportswoman, Best Coach, Best Para Coach, Best Sports Leader, Best Men’s and Women’s Teams and Best Sports Association.
There are also awards for the Best Sportswriter (English, Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia) and Best Sports Photographer.