Andre, Nor Farah named Sabah’s best
Published on: Thursday, November 02, 2023
By: GL Oh
Nor Farah (left) and Andre with their prizes.
Kota Kinabalu: Track and field athlete Andre Anura and pencak silat exponent Nor Farah Mazlan were crowned State Sportsman and Sportswoman for 2021-2022 at the Sabah Sports Awards ceremony held at the Sabah International Convention Centre on Tuesday.
Both expressed their disbelief after winning the RM10,000 top prize presented to them by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
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The 23-year-old Andre, who won three gold medals in triple jump event last year at the Vietnam SEA Games, Pahang Open and Perak Open, said he did not expect to win the award as he only got to compete in more tournaments in 2022 following the pandemic.
The national long jump record holder said his main target is to qualify for the Paris Olympics in triple jump and will try to participate in a few qualification competitions early next year.
“I am about to start training after the recent Asian Games and I will likely compete at the Asian Athletics Indoor Championships 2024 or some competitions in Australia early next year to try to qualify for the Olympics by July.
“I will also focus hundred per cent on the triple jump for the time being as I am trying to be the first from Southeast Asia to break the 17-metre mark,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Farah who hails from Kota Belud, won the gold medal at the 19th World Pencak Silat Championship in Melaka and a silver at the 8th Southeast Asian Pencak Silat Championship in Singapore held last year.
“I was really surprised to win the award as there were many worthy candidates. My hope is not to be complacent with what I have achieved and continue to work hard to win gold in the next competition.”
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She is scheduled to compete in the Asian Championship next week in Dubai and it is also her first competition following surgery on her broken fingers
sustained during the Cambodia SEA Games this year in which she won a gold medal.
Paralympians Wong Kar Gee in track and field and swimmer Brendda Anellia were the big winners in the para category by taking home the sportsman and sportswoman title respectively.
In the most promising categories, sportsman award went to Muhammad Asnawi Iqbal Adam (sailing) and sportswoman is Loo Yie Bing (swimming).
The best coach award was won by Jumain Taepe (athletics) while Eva Wong (swimming) took home the para coach award.
Former national athlete Aliudin Jummat who passed away recently was honoured with the Tokoh Sukan award.
Other winners were Datuk Seri Iliyas Ibrahim (sports leadership), Sabah Karate Association (best sports association), and Sepak Takraw (best women team).
There were also special awards given to Kilad Souzah @ Gerard, Maria Lucas, Tee Mi Kiong, the late Azami Inal, Loh Yew Moh, Datuk Herman Tiongsoh, Connie Lo Kui Ching, Life Water Marketing (K2), F&N Beverages Kota Kinabalu while the best sportswriter winners were Lester J. Bingkasan (Borneo Post), Tan Giok Seh (Sin Chew Daily) and Mohd Syafif Syahiran Danny (RTM).
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