(From left to right) Abdul Muktalib, Zaini, Nancy, Abdul Karim, Ong and Baharuddin meet the press yesterday.
KUCHING: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has revealed that his ministry received 137 nominations from 42 registered associations for the biennial Sarawak Sports Awards for 2017/2018.
The list has since been shortened to 57 candidates who exceeded the qualification criteria. Among those vying for the Sportsman of the Year title are Buda anak Anchah (bodybuilding), Welson Sim Wee Sheng (swimming), Abang Afiq Yazid Abang Azman (tenpin bowling), Emmanuel Leong (karate) and Tan Yen Ming (taekwondo).
Contenders for the Sportswoman of the Year accolade include Grace Wong (athletics), Karen Lyne Anak Dick (table tennis), Gilian Lim (tenpin bowling), Nurul Hidayah Abdul Karim (taekwondo) and Nur Azrenna Ahmad Jumry (cycling).
The awards night will be graced by the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Dewan Suarah in Sibu on Oct 26.
Other major awards to be given out will include Most Promising Athlete (male and female),Paralympic Sportsman and Sportswoman, Best Coach, Best Sports Leader, Paralympic Coach, Best Men and Women Team and Best Sports Association.
Meanwhile, media practitioners will also be recognised via Best Sports Writer (Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin) and Best Photographer awards.
Abdul Karim added that the various awards will help motivate athletes as Sarawak continue to strive towards the goal of becoming a sports powerhouse.
“We are slowly going into that and we are very commited in trying to build up our sports whether in Sukma, schools, and even paralympic sports,” he said and also noted the rise of e-sports.
He was speaking at a press conference yesterday with Ministry of Youth and Sports acting permanent secretary Nancy Jolhi, Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee, State Information Department assistant director Mohd Baharruddin Mohamad, Sarawak Sports Council officer Abdul Muktalib Mohamad and Youth and Sports Department officer Zaini Abd Aziz.