PETALING JAYA, June 12 (Bernama) — World No. 1 badminton player Datuk Lee Chong Wei made a clean sweep of all the major sporting awards when he was named winner of the 100PLUS Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) awards Friday.
The reigning Sportsman Of The Year and Olympian Of The Year beat the likes of world squash champion Nicol David, fellow shuttlers women’s doubles pair Wong Pei Tty-Chin Ee Hui, Beijing Olympic archer Cheng Chu Sian and cyclist Azizul Hasni Awang to take home a trophy and a RM10,000 cash prize.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek gave away the prizes.
Chong Wei captured his fifth Malaysian Open title at the end of the year and ended it by winning the Super Series Masters Final.
In between, he ended Malaysia’s medal drought in the Olympics when he won a silver medal at the Beijing Games.
He also displaced China’s Lin Dan as the world No.1 badminton player.
"I’m delighted to have won this prestigious award and it will spur me on with the World Championships just around the corner," said a Chong Wei.
"I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and I will strive to live up to expectations as a winner of this award."
