Cheers for Sazali; Nicol bags 2006 Sportswoman Award

KUALA LUMPUR: The selection panel for the National Sports Awards have deemed bodybuilder Sazali Samad as the better choice over the badminton pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong for the 2006 Sportsman of the Year award. 

World champion and world number one squash player Nicol David claimed the Sportswoman of the Year award for the fourth time. 

Among the 11 nominees for the men’s award, Kien Keat-Boon Heong were arguably good bets to win it. 

Royal honour: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Sports Minister Datuk AzalinaOthman Said posing with bodybuilder Sazali Samad (right), the 2006 Sportsman of the Year,and Desmond David (left), the father of 2006 Sportswoman of the Year Nicol (squash).Nicol (inset), who is competing in the Kuwait Open, was not present to receive her award atthe Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara last night. — AZMAN GHANI / The Star

They beat higher-ranked world-class opponents, including world No 1 Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun of China, to win the Asian Games gold medal in Doha last December. It was the first gold medal for Malaysia in 36 years in Asiad badminton. 

However, Sazali rode on his achievement in winning the world title for the third time to take the award. 

He won the bantamweight (56kg) competition in the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships in the Czech Republic last October. But in the Asian Games two months later, Sazali only took silver amidst claims of unfair judging. 

Sazali also bagged the award in 2000, the year in which he won the world title for the first time. 

He was a nominee for the 2004 award after claiming his second world title but track cyclist Josiah Ng, who reached the Athens Olympic final in keirin, was named the winner. 

“I had some hope that I could win it because I was the only one among the nominees to win a world title,” said the 40-year-old policeman from Batu Pahat. “It’s still a pleasant surprise for me to win it. I felt that the badminton doubles pairs were strong candidates. 

Good job: Winners of the Special Award category (from left) Krishnan Thambusamy(athletics), Yeoh Cheang Swi (rugby) and Balwant Singh (triathlon).

“Winning the award for the second time also made up for the disappointment of not winning the Asian Games gold. I have to thank the National Sports Council (NSC), my employers and my family for all the support that they had given to me.” 

In the women’s category, among those Nicol came up against was bowler Esther Cheah, who won three gold and two silver medals in the Doha Asiad. 

Nicol has the distinction of having retained the world and prestigious British Open titles. She also took gold in the Asian Championships and Asiad and emerged victorious in eight international events. 

The 23-year-old also played a pivotal role in helping Malaysia to finish third in the World Team Championships in Canada last year, the best achievement by the women’s squash team. 

Sazali and Nicol each received RM10,000 and a trophy. 

Nicol was not present to receive the award because she is competing in the Kuwait Open. Her father, Desmond, took it on her behalf from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at the presentation ceremony at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara here last night.