Azizulhasni, Jun Hoong crowned sportsman, sportswoman of 2017
Cycling’s Pocket Rocketman and diving queen get the nod after gold medal performances last year.
Azizulhasni, fondly called The Pocket Rocketman, created history by clinching the gold medal in the keirin event at the 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Hong Kong.
Jun Hoong was spectacular in winning the gold medal in the women’s individual 10m platform at the World Aquatic Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last year.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V presented a revolving trophy, a personal trophy, a certificate and RM20,000 each to Azizulhasni and Jun Hoong.
Present at the presentation ceremony was Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Last year, Azizulhasni, 30, had a string of conquests, including the gold medal, at the 2017 Asian Track Cycling Championships in India as well as the keirin and sprint gold medals at the 29th Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
Jun Hoong also contributed a bronze medal with Pandelela Rinong in the women’s synchronished 10m platform in Budapest.
The 28-year-old diver also bagged the silver medal with Pandelela in the same event at the World Series.
The Perak-born also contributed a gold medal in the women’s individual 1m springboard at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year.
Meanwhile, world champion, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli was crowned the National Paralympic Sportsman of the Year for his gold medal in the men’s shot put F20 (learning disability) at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London.
Ziyad who was a Rio Paralympic Games gold medallist broke the world record in 17.29m at the London meet to erase his own record of 16.84m set in Rio.
Ziyad also contributed a gold medal in the 2017 Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur and won a bronze medal when competing with normal athletes in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
He received RM20,000, a revolving trophy, a personal trophy and a certificate from Sultan Muhammad V.
There was however no recipient for the National Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year.
Meanwhile, the men’s national hockey squad were awarded the National Team (Mens’) for qualifying for the World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India, this year.
It was also recognised for the gold medal in the World League second round and fourth place in the World League semi-finals in London as well as successfully defending their gold medal at 2017 SEA Games.
The hockey squad, who are now ranked 12th in the world, also won the silver medal in the 2017 Hero Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The women’s tenpin bowling team was crowned the National Team (Women’s) of the Year when it emerged as women’s team world champions in the World Championships in Las Vegas, United States.
LIST OF AWARD RECIPIENTS:
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National Sportsman: Mohd Azizulhasni Awang
National Sportswoman: Cheong Jun Hoong
National Paralympic Sportsman: Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli
National Team (Men’s): Hockey Squad
National Team (Women’s): Women’s Tenpin Bowling Team
National Coach (Male): Mohd Poad Kassim (Athletics)
National Coach (Female): Yoong Sze Yuin (Basketball)
Sports Personality Award: Sultan Ahmad Shah Sultan Abu Bakar (Football Association of Malaysia)
Sports Leadership Award: Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail (Malaysia Lawn Bowls Federation)
Special Awards:
Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) Football Club
Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (World Motorcycle Championship (MotoGP).