KUALA LUMPUR – Two-time Olympic bronze medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have won the National Sportsman award for the second time, at the 2024 National Sports Awards today.
The world number five men’s doubles pair previously received the shared honour in 2022, following their historic win at the Badminton World Championships in Tokyo – Malaysia’s first-ever world title in the sport.
The other nominees in the category include shuttler Lee Zii Jia, weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan, wushu exponent Wong Weng Soon, and pencak silat exponent Abdul Latif Mazakir.
Aaron and Wooi Yik are currently in Bangkok for the Thailand Open, and their award was received on behalf by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh.
Meanwhile, world number one lawn bowler Nor Farah Ain Abdullah was named National Sportswoman.
Nor Farah made headlines in April last year when she clinched gold in the women’s singles at the 2024 World Indoor Bowls Championships in Guernsey, Channel Islands.
"This award is the biggest one I’ve ever received, and I’m truly grateful to those who have supported me — President Datuk Awalan (Abdul Aziz), the National Sports Council (NSC), and YB Hannah Yeoh, who has never stopped championing lawn bowls. I really appreciate everyone’s support.
"I honestly didn’t expect to receive this award. Last year was really tough for me — I went to many tournaments and had to fight hard to maintain my momentum in each one.
"That’s why winning this is such a happy moment for me. I wasn’t expecting to win at all, especially since I’m still new to the squad. In fact, I think I’m the youngest in the team — so this was really unexpected," said Nor Farah.
Nor Farah claimed the award ahead of national bowler Sin Li Jane, silat exponent Nor Farah Mazlan, wushu exponent Tan Cheong Min, and track cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri.
The National Paralympic Sportsman and Sportswoman awards were awarded to two-time Paralympic gold medallist and world record holder Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and para lawn bowler Hasmunirah Malik, respectively.
The awards ceremony held in Subang Jaya was graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim.
Roll of honour
National Sportsman - Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (badminton)
National Sportswoman - Nor Farah Ain Abdullah (lawn bowls)
National Para Sportsman - Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (para powerlifting)
National Para Sportswoman - Hasmunirah Maliki (para lawn bowls)
National men's team - sepak takraw
- Muhammad Haziq Hairul Nizam
- Muhammad Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican
- Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi
- Muhammad Zuhri Zain
- Mohammad Azlan Alias
- Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin
- Muhammad Shahlril Aiman Halim
- Amirul Zazwan Amir
- Farhan Adam
- Muhammad Zaim Razali
- Aidil Aiman Azwawi
- Muhammad Syahmi Husin
- Muhammad Fetri Mohd Azwadi
- Norfaizzul Abd Razak
- Baikhakki Ari’ppin
National women's team - bowling
- Sin Li Jane
- Natasha Mohamed Roslan
- Gillian Lim Siew Giok
- Nora Lyana Natasia Norkamal
- Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik
- Nur Syazwani Sahari
National men's coach - Jami Adam (para powerlifting)
National women's coach - Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir (pencak silat)
Sports Icon - Tun Haji Mohd Ali Rustam
Sports leadership - Sunny Si Poh Heng (bowling), Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria (badminton)
Special award - Johor Motorsport Racing Team (JMR), National Deaf Sports Association, Selangor Red Giants E-sport (MLBB), Datuk Hasbullah Awang. – May 13, 2025
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