KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — The Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) awards will kick it up a notch this year by being a compulsory suit and tie event.
The gala night rewards the best athletes for 2016 as well as recognising the efforts of all sportswriters in their various media for excellence in sports writing.
This is the second year SAM awards will be held at night and deputy prime minister Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be attending.
“We have received more than 200 entrants across all categories which is the most so far,” said SAM president Ahmad Khawari Isa.
For the best athlete the nominees are shuttlers Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, divers Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong and cyclist Azizulhasni Awang — all for Olympics glory.
Also shortlisted are Moto3 rider Khairul Idham Pawi and world silat champion Mohd Al-Jufferi Jamari.
There will be two new categories.
The first is the best Paralympian award which will be contested by Abdul Latif Romly, Ziyad Zolkefli, Ridzuan Puzi and Siti Noor Radiah.
The other new category is the ‘Best Motorsports Writer’.
“SIC (Sepang International Circuit) contacted us and asked if we could offer an award for motorsports and we thought it was a good idea,” said Khawari.
The awards ceremony is on Thursday at Concorde Hotel. Other awards up for grabs are best news report for print and online, best sports commentary for print and online, best special report (open) and best sports photography.
The winners will pocket RM3,000.
They will have a chance to win the Normal Siebel award which is given to the overall winner — who will be richer by RM7,000 plus the coveted trophy.
