MELAKA, Nov 10 — National men’s doubles badminton player Aaron Chia and women’s wushu athlete Tan Cheong Min were named Melaka Sportsman and Sportswoman 2023/2024 during the 39th Melaka Sports Awards ceremony today.
Chia, 28, clinched the title for the second consecutive year after delivering outstanding performances on the international stage, including winning the bronze medal in men’s doubles at the 2023 World Championships in Copenhagen, and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, besides emerging as runner-up at the 2024 All England Championships in Birmingham.
Meanwhile, Tan, 27, excelled in wushu, winning two gold medals at the 32nd Cambodia SEA Games 2023, a silver medal at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, and gold and silver at the third IWUF Taolu World Cup 2024 in China.
Both athletes received their awards from Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam, taking home a challenge trophy and RM3,000 cash prize each.
Also present at the event were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and State Executive Councillor for Youth Development, Sports, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Datuk V.P. Shanmugam.
Meanwhile, Rauf said the ceremony was not merely an appreciation event but a platform to recognise the courage, dedication and perseverance of Melaka athletes who view the sporting arena as their true field of battle.
“The state government has never overlooked your hard work. Every sacrifice and effort made by Melaka’s sporting heroes will always be a source of pride and admiration.
“As a token of appreciation to these remarkable individuals who have fought on both the world and Asian youth stages, the state government has allocated RM213,000 for eight categories of the Melaka Sports Awards, including incentive prizes for athletes’ victories,” he said in his speech.
Rauf added that the state government will continue to uplift the status of sports in Melaka by strengthening the sports industry through inclusive development programmes, in line with its aspiration to make the state’s sports sector stand tall on the world stage.
At the ceremony, he also received the Melaka Sports Sustainability Icon Award, while a Special Award was presented to former 1980s national football player Ramli Junit.
Among other recipients at the Melaka Sports Awards 2023/2024 were wushu athlete Lee Ronn (Promising Sportsman) and weightlifter Nurul Syasya Khairina Samsur (Promising Sportswoman).
The Melaka Men’s Football Team were named Best Men’s Team after ending a 34-year wait to reach the final of the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma) Sarawak 2024, where they bagged the silver medal.
Meanwhile, the Melaka Badminton Association received the Best Association Award, while Chai Chin Hin (wushu) and Mohd Syahrizan Che Omar (pencak silat) were honoured as Best Coaches.
