Reigning world men’s doubles badminton champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik were crowned the National Sportsman award for 2022.
PETALING JAYA: Reigning world men’s doubles badminton champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik were crowned the National Sportsman award while Ng Joe Eee delivered a big boost for rhythmic gymnastic by winning the National Sportswoman title at the 2022 National Sports Award (ASN 2022) ceremony on Monday.
Aaron-Wooi Yik made history by becoming the first national badminton pair to win the world title in Tokyo last August.
Their outstanding achievement saw them repeat the feat achieved by former doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, who won the National Sportsman award in 2007 after winning the 2006 Asian Games gold medal in Doha.
Aaron-Wooi Yik ended Malaysia’s 45-year wait for the world title when they defeated three-time world champions Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia 21-19, 21-14 in the final of the World Badminton Championships in Tokyo last year.
The world number four pair won the National Sportsman title after overcoming the challenges of five-time world champion bodybuilder Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah, two weightlifters - 2022 Commonwealth Games weightlifting gold medallists Mohammad Aznil Bidin and Mohamad Aniq Kasdan - and World Amateur Snooker Championship winner Lim Kok Leong.
Joe Ee, who clinched two golds in the ball and ribbon disciplines at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was crowned National Sportswoman ahead of divers Datuk Pandelela Rinong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri as well as Nur Ain Syuhada Mohd Asri (petanque) and Nur Amisha Azrilrizal (muay thai).
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah presented the prizes to the pair, who also clinched bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was in attendance.
The men's hockey team won the National Men’s Team award after creating history by winning the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for the first time last year as women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, winners of the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal and French Open champions, took home the National Women’s Team award.
A. Arul Selvaraj (hockey) won the National Men’s Coach award while Beh Lee Wei (table tennis) won the National Women’s Coach award after guiding the national team to the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medal.
Datuk Nicol David's parents Desmond David and Ann-Marie David were honoured with a Special Award along with three other recipients, including tower runner Soh Wai Ching.
The Sportsman, Sportswoman, Paralympic Sportsman and Paralympic Sportswoman award winners each received a trophy, a certificate and RM20,000.
