PUTRAJAYA Oct. 30 - National swimmer Foo Jian Beng and national diver Pandelela Rinong were today awarded the ”Putera Sukan” and ”Puteri Sukan” honours at the Ministry of Education-MSSM-Milo Sports Awards 2008 ceremony.
Among Foo”s acheievments was winning the gold medal in the 100m butterfly stroke as well as in the 50m race, 100m and 4X100m free-style in the Asean Schools Swimming Championshiip as well as winning three gold medals in the Terengganu Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) Games in the 50m and 100m free-style events and the 50m butterfly event.
"I am proud for being picked for the award. I will use this award to boost my spirits in the SEA Games in Laos this December. "As this will be my first appearance in the SEA Games, I will strive for the gold medal in my favourite event, the 100m free-style,” said Foo, a former student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Section 19 Shah Alam, when met after the presentation.
He received a trophy, a medal, a certificate and RM5,000 from Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Foo, who is now busy training under former national swimmer, Marilyn Chua, who had participated in the Barcelona Olympics, said he will take part in the 100m and 50m free-style events in the Laos Sea Games.
Meanwhile, Pandelela was picked for her award following her success in getting sixth place in the 16th FINA World Diving Championship that led to her qualifying for the Beijing Olympics in the 10m platform event.
Pandelela, who is training in Kunming, China for the SEA games, was represented by her father, Pamg Anak Joheng, at the ceremony.
"Since Year One, Pandelela has been interested in swimming and diving. I always advice her not be easily disappointed and to always have strong spirit. I want her to be successful in the sport she loves,” said Pamg.
Also receiving an award was a new diving star, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, 10, from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Putrajaya 8 (2) Presint 8 Putrajaya, who got the Tunas Harapan (Puteri) award.
Her success in winning the bronze in the 3m synchronised diving board event made her the youngest winner in the Terengganu Sukan Malaysia Games last year.
The ”Tunas Harapan (Putera)” winner was Yeoh Li Tian, 10, for chess.
The student of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Yuk Chai, Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya, got third place in the Second Asean Primary Schools Olympiad and the Kuala Lumpur International Open and was champion in the Melaka MSSM Championship.
Zainab Mohamad Ashari was winner of the ”Pendidikan Khas Puteri” as she was winner of the ”Tokoh Kanak-kanak Kebangsaan (Learning Disability Category) and gold medal winner silver medal winner in the Asean 2008 Para Sports in Korat, Thailand.
Muhammad Syafiq Zulfayri Harni was winner of the ”Anugerah Pendidikan Khas Putera” award.
Also winning awards were national wusyu athlete Tai Cheau Xuen (Anugerah Khas Puteri), national equine athlete Muhammad Anas Danial Noradzman (Anugerah Khas Putera), Rozitah Hassan and Matthew Chin Hiong Choi (Anugerah Guru Berjasa) as well as Chua Hong Tham (Anugerah Tokoh Sukan - Kepimpinan).
— BERNAMA