Aaron-Wooi Yik named 2024 National Sportsmen
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik earned the 2024 Sportsmen of the Year award after defending their Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : National badminton stars Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were named National Sportsmen of the Year at the 2024 National Sports Awards (ASN).
This is the second time the 2022 world champions have won the honour, beating contenders Lee Zii Jia (badminton), Mohamad Aniq Kasdan (weightlifting), Wong Weng Soon (wushu), and Latif Maxzakir (pencak silat).
The pair, currently ranked fifth in the world, earned the recognition after defending their Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in a close win over Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
They were unable to attend the ceremony as they are competing in the 2025 Thailand Open.
Nor Farah Ain Abdullah made history as the first female lawn bowls athlete to be named National Sportswoman of the Year, following her gold medal at the 2024 World Indoor Bowls Championships in Guernsey.
Sin Li Jane (bowling), Tan Cheong Min (wushu), Nurul Izzah Izzati (cycling), and Nor Farah Mazlan (pencak silat) were the other contenders for the award.
Bonnie Bunyau Gustin was named National Paralympic Athlete for the third time after defending his gold medal in the 72kg category at the 2024 Paralympics.
Hasmunirah Maliki, who won gold at the 2024 Para Lawn Bowls World Championship, was named National Female Paralympic Athlete.
The National Men's Team Award went to the sepak takraw squad for their World Cup victories in the doubles and regu events, while the women's 10-pin bowling team was honoured as National Women's Team for their seven-medal haul at the 2024 Asian Championship.
The ceremony also honoured prominent contributors to Malaysian sports. Melaka governor Ali Rustam received the Sports Figure Award for his leadership in martial arts. The Sports Leadership Award went to Sunny Si Poh Heng (Sarawak 10-Pin Bowling Association) and Norza Zakaria (Badminton Association of Malaysia).
Special Award recipients included the Johor Motorsport Racing Team, Malaysian Deaf Sports Association, late sports commentator Hasbullah Awang, and Selangor Red Giants (e-sports).
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