Sportsman and Sportswoman Award 2011

Their Majesties the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the Supreme Ruler) of Malaysia, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong (the Supreme Queen) graced the Sportsman and Sportswoman Award 2011 ceremony held at Palace of Golden Horses in Seri Kembangan, Kuala Lumpur. The arrival of the royal couple were received by Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Director of Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong.

In the ceremony, Shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei and diver Pandelela Rinong were crowned National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year 2011. Pandelela, 18, eclipsed pre-award favourite and popular candidate Nicol who had won the title seven times consecutively and other nominees on the list, Nur Suryani Muhamed (shooting) and Fatehah Mustapa (cycling).

Pandelela who recently compete in the third round of World Diving Series (WDS) in Moscow, Russia supposedly headed directly to Tijuana, Mexico to compete in the final round. But, she chooses to take the 11,300 km trip back to Kuala Lumpur and personally received the award.

picture from Bernama, Utusan