Irfan, Jun Hoong declared Masum sportsman, sportswoman
KUALA LUMPUR: Discus thrower Muhammad I r fan Shamsuddin and diving queen Cheong Jun Hoong were crowned 2017 Malaysian Universities Sports Council ( Masum) sportsman and sportswoman on Sunday.
Jun Hoong from Universiti Putra Malaysia, who emerged world champion after winning the 10 metre plat form event gold medal at the World Aquatic Championships in Budapest last year, overshadowed her diving team- mate Pandelela Rinong Pamg. Another candidate for Masum’s sportswoman award was Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh in the archery event.
University Malaya’s Muhammad Irfan, the winner of the discus throw in the last three SEA Games with the latest in Kuala Lumpur last year, met the challenge of Muhammad Afif Muhammad Razi f ( Gol f ), Lim Chee Wei ( Karate) and Johnathan Wong Guanjie (Shooting).
Both received the awards from Education Ministry Secretary General Datuk Dr Mohd Gazali Abas during a ceremony at the University Malaya Alumni Association Club House. Each took home a challenge trophy, a cash prize of RM3,000, a winner’s trophy and a certificate of appreciation.
Also present were University Malaya Vice- Chancellor Datuk Ir Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim and Masum chairman Prof Datuk Hassan Basri Awang Mat Dahan.
For Jun Hoong, it was a matter of pride for her to win the same title she had won in 2012.
“Off course I am very happy, it is like recognition, thank you for the endless support and my hardwork, it paid off. For the 2018 Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang, I will certainly give you the best action and I am trying my best to catch up on the training, “she said.
The winner of the si lver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the 10 meter platform synchronised event is expecting strong challenges from China and North Korea in Indonesia.
She is targeted to bring home medals but did not set the number of medals.
Irfan was represented by his sister Salwa Shamsuddin, 34, as he is undergoing intensive training in Germany for the Asian Games next month.
Meanwhile, the Most Promising Male Athlete was Asif Rahman Jiyaudeen from the University of Malaya while Iman Aisyah Norazam (archery) from Sultan Zainal Abidin University was chosen as the Most Promising Woman Athlete.
Nine other awards were also given out including the best male and female teams, coach and sports figure awards. — Bernama