Monday February 18, 2013

SAM pick Fauzan and Haziq as winners

PETALING JAYA: National cyclist Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lufti and archer Haziq Kamaruddin have been named Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) 100 Plus Award’s Comeback Athlete of The Year and Best Young Athlete respectively.

The accolade was well deserved following Fauzan and Haziq’s tremendous showing last year.

For Fauzan, the award is a nod towards his unwavering efforts to seek redemption after he was suspended for two years in 2009 following the use of a banned substance.

After serving the suspension, Fauzan returned to the sport in 2011 with renewed vigour to set things right.

And 2012 proved to be the catalyst for the 27-year-old as he was declared the overall winner of the National Cycling Championship Grand Prix.

Fauzan was also the best performing Malaysian when he finished in 36th spot overall at the 2012 Le Tour de Langkawi and went on to help the Malaysian squad clinch third place in the Tour of Thailand in the same year.

Fauzan’s determination, spirit and his top-100 finish at the Cycling World Cup in Italy last year was reason enough to award him the captain’s armband for the forthcoming Le Tour de Langkawi.

As for Haziq, representing the country at the 2012 London Olympics remains one of the youngster’s most memorable feat in his young career.

The youngster competed in two events, the recurve individual and team events alongside compatriot Cheng Chu Sian and Khairul Anuar Mohamad.

Despite returning home empty-handed, the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) counts the experience competing against the best of the world as priceless.

“Competing at the Olympics is a success on its own because we were up against top-class archers from around the world,” said Haziq.

At only 19-year-old, the archer from Johor has a bright future ahead of him and his target is to earn a shot at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The SAM Award ceremony will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Petaling Jaya tomorrow.

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