Maximilian Maeder and Zeanne Law gunning for rare double at Singapore Sports Awards
Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder and wushu exponent Zeanne Law are among the finalists for the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year gongs. PHOTOS: ST FILE, CHEAH CHENG POH
SINGAPORE – A year after winning the Sportsboy and Sportsgirl of the Year awards, kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder and wushu exponent Zeanne Law are taking a step up to the big leagues for the 2025 Singapore Sports Awards.
The nominees for the annual awards were announced by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) on June 2, and the teenage duo are among the finalists for the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year gongs. Both athletes have a chance to score back-to-back junior and senior accolades – a feat not seen in the last two decades.
Swimmer Mark Chay was the last male athlete to be crowned the 2001 Sportsboy of the Year and 2002 Sportsman of the Year, while sailor Joan Huang claimed the 1998 Sportsgirl of the Year and 1999 Sportswoman of the Year awards.
Maeder told The Straits Times: 'I'm very happy that my achievements are being affirmed and people are not bored of me yet.
'But more seriously and importantly, it's great that there is an event like this to recognise and celebrate the success and hard work of those who are involved in Singapore sports, and I'm thankful and honoured that I get to be part of this exercise.'
Winner of the Sportsboy of the Year award for three consecutive years, the 18-year-old and had an outstanding 2024 season in which he won nine out of 10 events to retain his world title, claim the Asian Championship, and a bronze at the Paris Oympics.
He will face stiff competition from silat world champion Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau'ddin, Reyes Cup and International 9-Ball Open champion Aloysius Yapp, Olympic badminton quarter-finalist and Madrid Spain Masters winner Loh Kean Yew, and Taolu World Cup silver medallist Jowen Lim.
Law said she had a 'transformative' year after winning the 2024 Sportsgirl of the Year accolade, noting that she became a more mature and experienced athlete.
In 2024, Law won gold in the women's taijiquan and optional taijishan events at the World Taijiquan Championships in Singapore, in addition to a women's optional taijiquan gold at the Asian Wushu Championships.
The 19-year-old added: 'It helped me gain more opportunities to introduce wushu to the general public and also encourage more youths to pursue this sport.
'I was glad that I could perform well for the subsequent competitions, demonstrating consistency despite having more pressure now as a Spex scholar and Sportsgirl of the Year.'
Pointing out that the nomination reminds her of the support from the wushu federation and High Performance Sport Institute, Law said she was 'thankful for it and just being nominated is already a blessing for me'.
The other nominees for the accolade are: Asian Tenpin Championships women's singles winner Daphne Tan, kickboxing World Cup triple-gold medallist Valencia Yip, World Pencak Silat Championships bronze medallist Nurdianna Sidek, Olympic pistol shooter Teh Xiu Hong, and swimmer Gan Ching Hwee, who set national records in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle at Paris 2024.
The main awards selection committee was chaired by SNOC president Grace Fu, while vice-president Jessie Phua headed the selection committee for the Sportsboy and Sportsgirl awards.
National sports associations submitted candidates for the main award categories based on a set of eligibility criteria, including their achievements for the year.
The selection committees then decided on the finalists and cast their votes via a secret ballot to determine the winners. Independent auditing firm KPMG will then tabulate the results for the June 20 announcement.
Twelve awards will be presented at the ceremony on June 20 at Swissotel The Stamford. Meritorious awards will also be presented to individual and team performances in the senior and junior categories.
The Straits Times has three finalists for the Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year award, with the other two nominees from Lianhe Zaobao and Mothership.
Singapore Sports Awards organising committee chairman Lau Kok Keng said: 'The year 2025 marks a bold new chapter in Singapore sport – a time when we continue shaping new horizons through the passion, resilience, dedication and efforts of Team Singapore.
'From regional championships to the Olympic Games, our athletes have inspired us with their outstanding performances.
'As we celebrate their achievements, we also recognise the many individuals – coaches, teams, media professionals, and organisers – whose contributions have in one way or other injected our sporting landscape with fresh energy and vision.'
David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis.
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