Handsome rewards
Winning athletes receive RM6.2mil under national sports incentive scheme
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a big payday for the athletes as the government handed out a total of RM6.2mil to the deserving winners under the national sports incentive scheme (Shakam).
The biggest amount went to the medallists from the Asian Para Games in Indonesia in August with a total of RM2.9mil given yesterday.
Malaysia finished with 17 golds, 26 silvers and 25 bronzes at the Asian Para Games.
Ridzuan Puzi collected the biggest amount of RM260,000 for winning three gold medals in the 100m, 400m and long jump in the T36 (intellectual disability) category in athletics.
Ridzuan, the reigning Paralympic champion, also performed brilliantly to break the world record in the 100m and went on to better the Asian mark in the long jump.
Rhythmic gymnast Amy Kwan Dict Weng was the next big winner as she picked up a cheque of RM133,333 for her four-medal feat at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, in April.
Amy claimed gold in the ribbon, a silver in the team event apart from two bronzes in the individual all-around and hoop.
Malaysia had a total haul of seven golds, five silvers and 12 bronze medals with the government paying out a total of RM1.03mil.
The 2017 world champion track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang was the biggest winner from the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.
He was rewarded with RM113,333 for taking gold in the men’s sprint, a silver in the men’s team sprint and a bronze in the men’s keirin.
Altogether, a total of RM1.568mil were given out for Malaysia’s total haul of seven golds, 13 silvers and 16 bronzes at the Asian Games while RM380,000 were also given out to the pencak silat exponents who triumphed at the World Championships in Singapore last week.
Malaysia bagged three golds, two silvers and three bronzes. The gold medals came from Siti Rahmah Mohd Nasir, Hazim Amzad and the doubles pair Mohd Taqiyuddin Hamid-Sazzlan Yuga.
Rafiq Ismail and the doubles pair of Adrian Ang-Tun Ameerul Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam each picked up RM80,000 for their golden efforts at the World Championships in Hong Kong recently.
Lilian Tan, Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah and Buda Anchah scaled the top of the podium at the World Bodybuilding and Physical Fitness Championships in Chiangmai, Thailand last week and will share RM100,000.