KUALA LUMPUR – Squash ace and 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games gold-medallist S. Sivasangari is among six athletes shortlisted for the 2023 SAM Athlete of the Year award.
The Sportswriters’ Association of Malaysia in a statement today said the others shortlisted for the award were Ng Eain Yow (men’s squash), wushu exponent Wong Weng Son, world tenpin bowling champion Natasha Mohamed Roslan and women’s lawn bowls pair Nur Ain Nabilah Tarmizi and Aleena Ahmad Nawawi.
Two national para athletes who have regularly decorated the awards podium in the country, Bonnie Bunyau Gustin from powerlifting and badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou, are expected to dominate the contest for 2023’s Best Para Athlete of the Year.
Para athlete Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim’s gold medal at boccia’s Asia-Oceania Championships in Hong Kong saw her included in the list for Best Para Athlete as well, said SAM in the statement.
Chairman of the awards Hazreen Mubarak said the 2023 edition would see a number of new faces in the list, highlighting the fact that Malaysia had many unpolished sporting diamonds.
“SAM, representing sports journalists in the country, hopes the recognition and appreciation accorded through the two categories in the SAM-100PLUS Awards will inspire young athletes to continue proving their capabilities in the regional and global stages to emulate the ‘Demi Malaysia’ slogan,” he said.
The 2023 SAM awards, scheduled on June 6 at the Seri Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, also honours sportswriters by offering awards that offer RM50,000 in total prize money.
The awards are divided into six categories: Best Print Report, Best Electronic Media Report, Best Print Media Commentary, Best Electronic Media Commentary, Best Special Report and Best Photograph.
The best overall winner in the sportswriters’ category will be crowned with the Siebel Award, which comes with a trophy and RM7,000 cash prize.
The awards night will be officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. – May 31, 2024