By Luqman Hakim
Triple-jumper Mohd Hakimi Ismail, 28, and bowler Sin Li Jane, 27, were crowned Perak Sportsman and Sportswoman, respectively, at the Perak Sports Award 2017/18 held at Casuarina Convention Centre recently.
The momentous event was graced by Sultan Nazrin Shah and Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim.
Present was Howard Lee Chuan How, Executive Councillor for Youth and Sports Development, who represented Menteri Besar, Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
Mohd Hakimi performed well in 2017 and 2018 winning gold at the Malaysia Open Championship, Singapore Open Championship, SEA Games and Almaty Kazakh 2017 Championship.
He won 7 gold medals last year namely, the Kuala Lumpur All-Comers Meet, Sydney New All-Comers, Kuala Lumpur Open Championship and Naypyidaw ASEAN University Games.
Li Jane’s forte is in tenpin bowling. She won 6 gold medals in 2017 including in SEA Games, ABF Tour Thailand, Lincoln PWBA Open and 48th Brunswick Ballmaster Open last year.
The Most Promising Award went to shooter Loo Jie Ren, 20, and sailor Nor Nabila Natasha Mohd Nazri, 17.
Meanwhile, former national badminton player who helped the nation secure second placing in the 1976 Thomas Cup Championship, Suffian Abu Bakar, 65, was honoured with the Special Recognition Award.
The Sports Family Award went to the family of Mohd Nazri Seman. Husband Nazri is the state sailing coach, his wife is the sailing team usher while his two children represent the state (Nur Adriana Adlyna) and nation (Nur Nabila Natasha) in the sport.
The Best Team Award was presented to the state football team which emerged champion in the Unifi Malaysia Cup, first runner up in the Unifi Super League and Shopee FA Cup last year.
S.R. Chandran, the Vice President of Malaysia Athletics Federation who is also an international technical official for major world championships received the Sports Leadership Award.
State shooting team coach, Alais Neek Sulong, received the Best Coach Award.
