logo
Aaron-Wooi Yik, Bonnie heading a stellar cast for SAM-100Plus award

Aaron-Wooi Yik, Bonnie heading a stellar cast for SAM-100Plus award

The Star01-07-2025
Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) president Norismadi Abd Manap (second from right).
KUALA LUMPUR: Paris Olympic Games bronze medalists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are one of the frontunners to win the best athletes award at the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100Plus annual ceremony.
The shuttlers will be strongly challenged by equally impressive nominees tower runner Soh Wai Ching, bowler Sin Li Jane, wushu expert Tan Cheong Min and lawn bowler Farah Ain Abdullah.
Wai Ching is the undisputed king in tower run, winning several international titles while Li Jane dominated the Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour by winning four titles last year, including the prestigious US Open title.
Farah won gold at the World Championships at the Channel Islands and Cheong Min triumphed at Macau Asian Championships.
Earlier this year, world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik had won the best male athlete of the year during the national award in April.
As for the title of the best para athlete, there will be keen competition between two contenders – shuttler Cheah Liek Hou and powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin.
Liek Hou retained his singles gold in Paris while Bonnie broke the world record en route to defending his gold.
The other candidates are Ziyad Zolkefli (F20 shot put), Latif Romly (T20 long jump) and Eddy Bernard (T44 sprint).
Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM), Norismadi Abd Manap said the winners of both main athlete awards will each receive RM10,000 in cash and a trophy at the awards ceremony, at Sunway Resort Hotel on July 14.
"The 2024 SAM-100Plus awards will also recognise excellence in sports journalism through six categories: best report-news (print media), best report-news (electronic media), best commentary (print media), best commentary (electronic media), best special report (Open), and best sports photography," he said at a press conference on Tuesday (July 1).
Norismadi also announced that the SAM leadership unanimously agreed to increase the cash prize for the top journalism award, the Siebel award, from RM7,000 to RM10,000.
The cash prize for the popular sports commentator award has also been increased to RM3,000 from RM2,000 previously.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pre-Sukma silat tourney ends in Miri
Pre-Sukma silat tourney ends in Miri

Borneo Post

time8 minutes ago

  • Borneo Post

Pre-Sukma silat tourney ends in Miri

An intense battle during the finals. MIRI (July 29): The Pencak Silat Pra-Sukma Tournament held at Petronas Sports Village here drew to a close on Sunday morning. A total of 150 athletes, coaches and technical officials from Marudi, Sibuti, Niah and Miri were involved. The event, which was organised by Rumpun Silat Sarawak Wilayah Miri (RSSWM), served both as a platform to prepare for the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) and to strengthen ties between silat communities in the northern zone. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin commended organisers and participants for their commitment to silat and youth development. 'This tournament is not only a platform for selecting athletes to represent the state but also one that nurtures discipline, identity and fighting spirit among our youth,' he said. He also noted the encouraging participation of athletes from various ethnic backgrounds. 'This is a very good development. We want to see more of our youth participate, regardless of race or background,' he remarked. Meanwhile, RSSWM secretary Mohd Azahar Bujang reiterated that the tournament was not only a form of early preparation for the state silat contingent but also an opportunity to assess the progress of athletes, coaches and referees. 'This competition is very valuable in helping us see where we stand and where we can improve. It also serves to motivate our athletes to push themselves further,' he said. 'This kind of exposure will help both our athletes and coaches to better understand the level of competition expected at Sukma,' he added. Lee also announced a RM10,000 allocation to RSSWM to support future silat development in the region. Pencak Silat Pra-Sukma Tournament

Back in the swing
Back in the swing

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Back in the swing

Party time: Indonesia's Fajar Alfian (right) and Shohibul Fikri dancing in celebration after winning the China Open men's doubles final against Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in Changzhou. — AFP PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi believes shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are slowly regaining their best form heading into the World Championships from Aug 25-31 in Paris. Expectations were high on world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik to continue their impressive run in the Japan Open in Tokyo last week but the pair suffered a shock first-round defeat at the hands of fellow Malaysians Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi. It was the duo's second first-round exit after suffering the same fate in the Indonesian Open in Jakarta in June. While the slip in Indonesia was due to the pair's exhausting run which included three back-to-back finals where they captured the Thailand Open and Singapore Open titles and finished runners-up in the Malaysian Masters, the capitulation in Japan was more worrying. Aaron-Wooi Yik, though, proved that it was only a blip when they roared back to reach the final in China. Although the duo could not crown their great run with the title after losing 15-21, 14-21 to Indonesia's scratch pair Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri in Changzhou on Sunday, Herry is happy with his charges for bouncing back after the disappointment in Japan. 'Although they lost in the final, Aaron-Wooi Yik are getting back to their best,' said Herry. 'In the final, they lost due to Fajar-Shohibul's strategy which was spot on. The opponents controlled the net and put a lot of pressure on Aaron-Wooi Yik. 'They made it difficult for our pair to play like they did in the semi-final (against India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty). Our game plan simply didn't work this time. 'Overall, it's still a positive outing for us ahead of the World Championships,' added Herry. Herry is next looking to sharpen Aaron-Wooi Yik's game further in his bid to guide them to glory in the world meet. The pair remain Malaysia's best bet for gold in Paris. Aaron-Wooi Yik created history in 2022 by becoming the first Malaysians to capture the world title in badminton. The duo won bronze a year later in 2023 after they were denied in the last four by South Korea's Seo Seung-jae-Kang Min-hyuk, who went on to win gold. The competition was not held last year due to the Paris Olympics where Aaron-Wooi Yik came away with the bronze. Another fine outing in Paris in the world meet this time is not beyond reach for Aaron-Wooi Yik, especially under Herry, who has transformed them into multiple title winners. The pair claimed gold in the Asian Championships for the first time in April to go with their title triumphs in Thailand and Singapore and are hungry to add another world crown to their collection.

Herry vows to rearm Aaron-Wooi Yik for world conquest
Herry vows to rearm Aaron-Wooi Yik for world conquest

New Straits Times

time3 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Herry vows to rearm Aaron-Wooi Yik for world conquest

HERRY IP has proved in the past that he could bounce back spectacularly after a setback. And the national men's doubles coach has vowed to do so again after Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik's setback in the China Open final in Changzhou on Sunday. Known as the "Fire Dragon" for his tenacity, Herry is rearming Aaron-Wooi Yik for the Paris World Championships on Aug 25–31. Aaron-Wooi Yik are looking to Herry to reignite their game, like what he has done before. Their careers hit rock bottom early this year when they crashed out in the All England first round. Then Herry pulled the duo up again, guiding them to the Asian crown, Thailand Open and Singapore Open titles, and second place at the Malaysia Masters. However, on Sunday, world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik, who were eyeing their first Super 1000 title, were stunned 21-15, 21-14 by Indonesia's world No. 210 Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri. On the plane back from China, the Herry homework has begun. "I remain optimistic about preparing the players thoroughly for the World Championships, and we still have four weeks to go," said Herry. "We will analyse and address Aaron-Wooi Yik's weaknesses and ensure they are well-prepared for the major event." Herry said Aaron-Wooi Yik could not reprise the form that saw them destroy India's Asian Games champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in the last four, as Fajar-Shohibul proved to be a different cup of tea. "Aaron-Wooi Yik couldn't reproduce their semi-final form in the title match. They lost to Fajar-Shohibul in terms of strategy. Fajar-Shohibul were dominant, brave, and also calm in controlling the front court." Herry, who is a legend in Indonesia for producing world and Olympic champions, will want to do the same for Malaysia in Paris. A man who measures his success with trophies, Herry will be determined to help Aaron-Wooi Yik, the 2022 world champions, scale similar heights again.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store