SHAH ALAM, Oct 19 — World tower run champion Soh Wai Ching and tenpin bowling world champion Natasha Mohamed Roslan were yesterday crowned 2023 Selangor Sportsman and Sportswoman, taking home RM10,000 in cash, trophies and certificates.
The award was presented by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari at a ceremony at Dewan Jubli Perak here.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Natasha, who is also 2023 National Sportswoman, said she did not expect to be chosen considering there are many others who were no less great in contributing to Selangor sporting victories.
“This award will certainly serve as a motivation and inspiration to continue my pursuit of success,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Tower Running Association president Ravinder Singh, who represented Soh, expressed his pride at the world champion’s achievement even though his sport is not contested in the Olympics.
Revealing Soh’s struggle in the early stages as he had started on his own, Ravinder expressed hope that more youth will venture into the sport as Soh is a good role model.
[caption id="attachment_376659" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The Selangor aquatics team, which made the state proud at the 2024 Malaysian Games in Sarawak, pose with Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari at the Selangor sporting awards ceremony at Dewan Jubli Perak, Shah Alam, on October 18, 2024. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Table tennis player Tey Hong Yu was named Most Promising Sportsman while the Most Promising Sportswoman award went to cyclist Yong An Tung.
Tenpin bowling’s Gerald Samuel walked away with the Best Men’s Coach award, while the Best Women’s Coach award went to basketball’s Tan Ee Shya. Selangor Karate-do Association president Datuk M. Panneerselvam meanwhile was honoured with the 2023 Sports Leadership Award.
At the same event, the Selangor Sports Council presented an incentive of RM1.5 million to 2024 Malaysian Games (Sukma) medallists.
The swimming team received the largest slice of the pie with RM322,900, while its star Andrew Goh Zheng Yin received the highest amount in the individual category with an RM52,000 prize.
In the latest Sukma, hosted by Sarawak, Selangor met its target to finish in the top three overall, with 56 gold, 64 silver and 61 bronze medals.
— Bernama
