KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in 50 years, a Paralympian, Abdul Latif Romly, was named the Sportsman of the Year for 2016.
Following his outstanding achievements last year, the Paralympic gold medallist, who broke the world record three times in long jump, received RM20,000, trophies and a certificate of achievement.
Latif's first jump was recorded at 7.47m then he bettered that record at a 7.57m to ultimately set a new world record at 7.60m.
In the same year, the 20-year-old won gold medals for his 7.46m jump at the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak and his best effort of 7.07m at the 8th Faaza International Athletics Competition in Dubai.
Earlier this month, Latif also received the 2016 Ministry of Education-Malaysian Sports School Council (MSSM)-Milo sports inspiration award.
Silat exponent Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir joined Latif to take top honours at the National Sports Award when she was named as Sportswoman of the Year.
Rahmah, who also received RM20,000, trophies and a certificate of achievement, took home four gold medals in 2016 alone through four competitions.
The 30-year-old won at the 17th World Silat Championship, Bali, Dutch Open International Silat Championship, 2nd International Thai Martial Arts Games and Festival and the Southeast Asia Silat Championship.
Meanwhile, there was no Best Male Paralympian award this year. The Best Female Paralympian award went to Siti Noor Radiah Ismail after breaking her own personal best of 5.20m in the women’s T20 (intellectual disability) at the 2016 Paralympic Rio to win the bronze medal.
In 2014, the 24-year-old won gold at the 7th Asean Para Games but only managed a silver medal at the same games, the following year.
The Best Male Team went to men’s badminton doubles player Tan Wee Kion and Goh Wei Shem who won the World Superseries Finals in Dubai as well as collecting the silver medal at the Rio Olympics.
Divers Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong took the honours for the Best Female Team after they took home the silver medal in both the World Cup and Rio Olympics last year.