NATIONAL track cyclist Azizul Hasni Awang, dubbed the "Pocket Rocket", was crowned 2009 Sportsman of the Year, while squash World No 1 Nicol David was named Sportswoman of the Year for the seventh time at the national sports awards night in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
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| The celebrated Malaysian sportsmen and sportswomen. |
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin presented the awards to the winners.
Azizul could not believe he had won the country's highest sporting honour.
"I did not expect this. Back when I first reported at the National Sports Complex, there were posters of former award winners like Rosman Alwi and (Ng) Joo Ngan," said the 22-year-old who flew in from his training base in Melbourne for the awards ceremony earlier yesterday.
"I was determined then to emulate them and I did it today (yesterday). Frankly I did not expect this honour so soon as I am still learning about the sport."
Azizul is the seventh cyclist to win the award after Datuk Ng Joo Ngan (1970), Daud Ibrahim (1971), Rosman Alwi (1985), M. Kumaresan (1987), Shahrulneeza Razali (1999) and Josiah Ng (2004).
Azizul could not believe he had won the country's highest sporting honour.
"I did not expect this. Back when I first reported at the National Sports Complex, there were posters of former award winners like Rosman Alwi and (Ng) Joo Ngan," said the 22-year-old who flew in from his training base in Melbourne for the awards ceremony earlier yesterday.
"I was determined then to emulate them and I did it today (yesterday). Frankly I did not expect this honour so soon as I am still learning about the sport."
Azizul is the seventh cyclist to win the award after Datuk Ng Joo Ngan (1970), Daud Ibrahim (1971), Rosman Alwi (1985), M. Kumaresan (1987), Shahrulneeza Razali (1999) and Josiah Ng (2004).
The Dungun-born cyclist was selected ahead of six other nominees including World No 1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei and five-time Mr Universe Sazali Samad, for his historic feats at the World Championships and World Cups last year.
Chong Wei was the early favourite to earn his third national sportsman award but his achievements, though appreciated, were no match compared to Azizul's exploits on the track.
The shuttler, who has been World No 1 since August 2008, won seven titles last year but failed to make a mark in the World Championships.
On the other hand, Azizul was in his element last year with breakthrough victories at the World Cup legs in Melbourne and Beijing. He went on to win the World Cup overall title and also emerged as the first Malaysian to occupy the top spot of the keirin world rankings.
Azizul continued his gallant run by reaching the final of the 200-metre sprint in the World Championships in Poland last March. He settled for silver after losing to France's Gregory Bauge.
Nicol was selected ahead of five nominees, including World Rankings Masters bowling champion Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, to claim her fifth successive Sportswoman of the Year award, making it a total of seven. The 26-year-old won in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Nicol nailed six tournaments on the Wispa Tour last year, including a fourth World Open title in Amsterdam.
She also won the World Games gold medal in Kaoshiung and ended the year as the top ranked women's player since August 2006.
The awards carry a prize money of RM10,000 and a certificate.
Chong Wei was the early favourite to earn his third national sportsman award but his achievements, though appreciated, were no match compared to Azizul's exploits on the track.
The shuttler, who has been World No 1 since August 2008, won seven titles last year but failed to make a mark in the World Championships.
On the other hand, Azizul was in his element last year with breakthrough victories at the World Cup legs in Melbourne and Beijing. He went on to win the World Cup overall title and also emerged as the first Malaysian to occupy the top spot of the keirin world rankings.
Azizul continued his gallant run by reaching the final of the 200-metre sprint in the World Championships in Poland last March. He settled for silver after losing to France's Gregory Bauge.
Nicol was selected ahead of five nominees, including World Rankings Masters bowling champion Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, to claim her fifth successive Sportswoman of the Year award, making it a total of seven. The 26-year-old won in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Nicol nailed six tournaments on the Wispa Tour last year, including a fourth World Open title in Amsterdam.
She also won the World Games gold medal in Kaoshiung and ended the year as the top ranked women's player since August 2006.
The awards carry a prize money of RM10,000 and a certificate.
Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is also the FA of Malaysia president, and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek also attended the event. NST
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