01-07-2025
Bonnie, Aaron-Wooi Yik lead cast for SAM-100PLUS Awards
KUALA LUMPUR: As expected, athletes who shone at last year's Paris Olympics and Paralympics lead the list of nominees for the 2024 Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS awards.
Men's badminton doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, tower runner Soh Wai Ching, tenpin bowler Sin Li Jane, wushu exponent Tan Cheong Min and lawn bowler Farah Ain Abdullah have been nominated for the Athlete of the Year award.
Aaron-Wooi Yik had claimed bronze at the Paris Games, Li Jane was named PWBA Tour Player of the Year after claiming four titles last year while Farah won the singles gold at the World Indoor Bowls Championships (Channel Islands) and also claimed gold (fours category) at the Pattaya Asian Championships.
Cheong Min took gold at the Macau Asian Championships while Wai Ching claimed the world title in Taiwan last year.
Shuttler Cheah Liek Hou, powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and track and field trio Ziyad Zolkefli (shot put F20), Latif Romly (long jump T20) and Eddy Bernard (100m T44) have been shortlisted for the Para Athlete of the Year Award.
Bonnie broke the world record en route to defending his gold at the Paris games where Liek Hou also retained his men's singles SU5 gold. Ziyad and Latif both clinched silver in Paris while Eddy claimed bronze.
The winner in both categories will receive RM10,000 and a trophy during the awards ceremony in Sunway on July 14.
SAM president Norismadi Abd Manap also announced an increase in prize money, from RM7,000 previously to now RM10,000, for the Siebel Award, the highest recognition for sports writing in Malaysia.
The prize money for the Popular Sports Commentator award has also been increased to RM3,000 from RM2,000 previously.
"We feel that it is important to give sports journalists, who work hard throughout the year to provide quality sports coverage, the recognition they deserve," said Norismadi during a press conference in Bukit Jalil today (July 1).
"We have seen a slight increase in the number of submissions as well as an increase in the quality of pieces produced this year.
"This is likely due to the Paris Olympics and Paralympics as well as a number of major issues in sports occurring last year."
Norismadi expressed his gratitude to 100PLUS who have sponsored the SAM Awards since 2003. 100PLUS is Malaysia's top isotonic drink brand.
