This is the fourth time that Azizulhasni, who bagged the silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is crowned National Sportsman. He previously won in 2009, 2010 and 2018.
Dubbed ‘The Pocket Rocketman’, he won several competitions throughout 2019-2020, including bronze medals in keirin and sprint at the 2020 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin, Germany.
The former world champion also won gold in keirin in the fourth leg of the 2019 Track World Cup, sprint gold at the Asian Cycling Championships for two consecutive years as well as a silver in keirin at the regional meet.
Azizulhasni beat the likes of Syahrul Azman Mahen Abdullah (bodybuilding), Khairul Anuar Mohamad (archery), Timmy Tan (tenpin bowling) and Wong Weng Son (wushu) to the award.
Meanwhile, Cheong Min’s efforts in winning the Nandao gold and Nanquan silver at the 2019 World Championships were enough for her to be named National Sportswoman.
The 24-year-old is the first wushu exponent to win the award.
She beat a top-class field of nominees that included Pandelela Rinong (diving), Siti Zalina Ahmad (lawn bowls), Sin Li Jane (tenpin bowling) and Farah Ann Hadi (artistic gymnastics).
Azizulhasni and Cheong Min each received a trophy, blazer and RM20,000.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah graced the star-studded ceremony held at a leading hotel.
Also present were Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, youth and sports minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu as well as national sporting figures.
Meanwhile, archer S Suresh, who made Malaysia proud when he won the men’s recurve at the 2019 World Para Archery Championships, was named National Paralympic Sportsman. Suresh took home a trophy and RM20,000.
No nominations were received for the Paralympic Sportswoman.
The Sports Figure award went to former Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary-general Sieh Kok Chi.
2019/2020 National Sports Awards Winners:
Sportsman: Azizulhasni Awang (Cycling)
Sportswoman: Tan Cheong Min (Wushu)
Paralympic Sportsman: S Suresh (Archery)
Men’s Team: Rafiq Ismail, Ahmad Muaz Fishol, Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek (Tenpin Bowling trio)
Women’s Team: Pandelela Rinong Pamg, Leong Mun Yee (Synchronised diving)
Men’s Coach: Marzuki Zakaria (Para archery)
Women’s Coach: Nor Hashimah Ismail (Lawn bowls)
Sports Figure Award: Sieh Kok Chi
Sports Leadership Award: The late Zolkples Embong, S Vegiyathuman, Lt Cdr (Rtd) Kamaruzaman Kadir
Special Award: Perak State Hockey Association (Sultan Azlan Shah Cup), Sekolah Kebangsaan Lemoi, Famemas Sports Supporters Club Malaysia