Malaysian Cyclist Wins Sportwriter's 100 PLUS award

Azizul's efforts earn sportswriters' award

2010/02/20

CYCLIST Azizul Hasni Awang's brilliant performance last year was duly recognised as he was named the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100Plus 2009 Athlete of the Year in Petaling Jaya yesterday. Azizul, who won the 200m sprint silver medal in the World Championships in Poland and keirin gold in the World Cup IV in Beijing last year, overcame stiff competition from shuttler Lee Chong Wei and four-time world squash champion Nicol David to secure the award.

Azizul, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to his preparation for next month's World Championships in Copenhagen and to focus on his studies, was elated with the win.

His mother Selamiah Yong received the award and RM10,000 on behalf of Azizul from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"I've never won this award before and it is a timely boost for my campaign in the World Championships in Copenhagen," stated Azizul via telephone from Melbourne yesterday.

"Last year, I was only nominated and it is actually a shock to win the award this time. I would like to thank all quarters for the support I have and I am hoping to go for gold in the World Championships."

Besides Chong Wei, who won the award last year, and Nicol, swimmer Daniel Bego -- winner of five gold in the Laos Sea Games, divers Pendelela Rinong-Leong Mun Yee -- who won the synchronised 10m platform bronze in the World Championships, and the national women's badminton team -- who won the Sea Games gold for the first time in 30 years, were the other nominees.

The national Under-23 football team also won a special award for capturing the Sea Games gold after 20 years.

Timesport's Ajitpal Singh walked away with the best news commentary award which fetched him RM3,000 .

Meeting old friends at the SAM 100 PLUS 2009 Award lunch.

Dato Zulkifli of KL, Dato Dr Ramlan Aziz, Datuk Naim, Encik Rosli, Dato Dina Rizal, Vijesh Rai.

Sdra Razak, Naim, Zairee, Joe Marcos, Sdra Rahman and Sdra Hafizal Hamad

Datuk Naim Mohamad, Dato Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz and Muhamad Rizal Hashim.

Sports in Schools

Hasrat Muhyiddin dipuji

Oleh TAUFEK A. RAZAK
sukan@utusan.com.my

Naim Mohamad

KUALA LUMPUR – Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) memuji saranan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang mahu menggerakkan usaha secara besar-besaran bagi menghidupkan semula aktiviti sukan di sekolah-sekolah.

Presiden MOM, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar berkata, ia satu usaha yang memang dinanti-nantikan terutama dalam menggalakkan pembangunan berterusan di peringkat akar umbi.

Bagaimanapun tegasnya, Kementerian Pelajaran tidak boleh melakukannya sendirian sebaliknya perlu menjalinkan kerjasama rapat dengan pihak terbabit yang lain.

“Kementerian Pelajaran perlu mewujudkan koordinasi dengan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, MOM dan persatuan-persatuan sukan.

“Ini bagi memastikan perancangan dapat dilakukan secara menyeluruh dan berkesan agar dapat mencapai matlamatnya.

“Saya percaya sebagai bekas menteri yang pernah menerajui kementerian berkaitan sukan, beliau (Muhyiddin) tentunya faham dengan apa yang hendak dilakukannya,” kata Tunku Imran.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Lembaga Eksekutif MOM di sini, semalam.

Menurutnya lagi, beberapa faktor perlu diambil kira Kementerian Pelajaran dalam melaksanakan usaha itu antaranya mendedahkan sekolah dengan sains sukan, memaksimumkan kemudahan sukan di sekolah dan tidak hanya mengadakan karnival sukan setahun sekali sahaja.

“Yang paling penting pihak kementerian perlu menyediakan bajet secukupnya untuk diberikan dalam bentuk elaun kepada guru yang terbabit sebagai dorongan menjadi jurulatih di sekolah-sekolah,” tegasnya.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Presiden, Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM), Datuk Naim Mohamad berkata, usaha Muhyiddin itu memang tepat pada masanya ketika sukan negara semakin bergerak ke hadapan.

“Banyak masalah yang timbul sebelum ini walaupun perbincangan demi perbincangan dilakukan antara persatuan dengan Majlis Sukan Sekolah-Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM).

“Dengan adanya usaha seperti ini, saya percaya segala halangan yang wujud dapat diatasi untuk melahirkan lebih ramai bakat-bakat baru,” ujar Naim.

Menurutnya, antara masalah utama yang timbul ialah dari segi pelaksanaan dan kebimbangan pihak sekolah tentang keselamatan pelajar-pelajar mereka.

“Saya percaya dengan pengumuman terbaru daripada Kementerian Pelajaran ini, satu mekanisme dapat dicari untuk mengatasi masalah dari segi pelaksanaan ini,” jelasnya.