The Johor Sports Council’s (MSNJ) 30th Johor State Sports Awards (Anugerah Sukan Negeri Johor) have crowned national cyclist Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and sharpshooter Nurul Syasya Nadiah the Sportsman and Sportswoman awards.
His achievements include being ranked 12th in cycling for the keirin and sprint events at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and winning a bronze medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Nurul Syasya has earned a gold medal at the 2022 SEA Games and several other international tournaments, as well as contributing four gold medals in the Malaysian Sports Games MSN XX 2022, Kuala Lumpur.
“This is my second award; the first time I missed out on it because I participated in a cycling tournament abroad, and tonight I got the coveted Johor sports award, which gives me even more motivation to prepare for the Olympic Games in Paris in July,” Muhammad Shah Firdaus told the press.
Nurul Syasya had her mother receive the award in her stead.
Both winners each were awarded a sum of RM7,000 and a trophy.
Mohd Hairi Mad Shah, Chairman of the Johor State Youth & Sports, Entrepreneur Development, and Cooperative Committee, was present as the guest of honour.
In his speech, Hairi remarked that a total of 14 awards will be given that come with an allocation of RM56,000 in total cash.
“This (recent) success is due to the leadership of His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail, The Regent of Johor, who has changed the landscape of football in the country in terms of management, brand, and the excellent achievements of the Johor Darul Ta’zim football club, which is followed by the youth of Johor to excel in sports until making a name for themselves on the global stage,” he said in his speech.
“In fact, the achievements and outstanding performance of Johor athletes at the 20th Malaysian Sports Games (SUKMA) MSN stage in 2022 in Kuala Lumpur succeeded in creating history, when they won 77 gold, 52 silver, and 44 bronze, making Johor the overall champion at the edition after 36 years SUKMA was organised,” he applauded.
The biannual award was presented to athletes, coaches, and sports promoters for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of national sports, particularly in the state of Johor.
The 30th Johor Sports Awards nominations are based on the athletes’ accomplishments, associations, and organisations in the Malaysian Sports Association (SUKMA), international, and global stages.
Indicators of nomination evaluation based on athlete, association, and organisation performance in 2021 and 2022. It is an effort to make the state of Johor one of the new sports powers of the country.
The Johor State Government, through the Johor State Sports Council, has implemented various initiatives, including grassroots programmes such as Rise Up Gold Junior and GRIT2030.
Ng Tze Yong, national shuttler, and Tan Rou Xin, national aquatic swimmer, were both named the Hopeful Sportsman and Sportswoman.
Ng has won gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the MSN XX 2022 Malaysian Games in Kuala Lumpur to earn him the title and was represented by his father to receive the award.
Tan Rouxin has contributed six (6) gold medals at the Malaysian Sports Games MSN XX 2022, Kuala Lumpur, and eight (8) gold medals at the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM).
Both winners took home RM5,000 in cash and a trophy each.
Other categories include the Best Men and Women’s teams which were awarded to the Johor State Football Team and the Johor Women’s Pursuit Team.
The men’s team has retained the 2021 and 2022 Charity Shield Cup, Malaysian Cup, and Malaysian Football League championships while also being named the Best Team at the National Football Awards in 2022 by the Malaysian Football League.
The women’s team was recognised for setting a new national record of 4:57:898s and winning the gold medal at the 2022 MSN XX Malaysia Sports Games, Kuala Lumpur.
The Best Sports Association Category has been evaluated through the Johor State Sports Association Grading Programme for the year 2022, an initiative with the support of the Johor State Government to produce better management, and the Johor State Football Association has been named as this category’s winner.
The District Sports Council is said to be the main pillar and backbone of MSNJ and with the evaluation indicators of programme organisation, participation in external tournaments, and the number of development athletes at the SUKMA level, the Kota Tinggi District Sports Council has been crowned the winner of the Best District Sports Council category.
Dato’ Haji Ismail Karim, the President of the Johor State Football Association, was named the winner of the Best Sports Leadership category for his leadership in promoting Johor on the international stage and the world stage in the football arena.
Supporters were also recognised through the Jury Special Category in Organisation, where Boys of Straits (BOS), the backbone of the Johor Darul Takzim Football Club since 2010, has been following the club to support them in every matches they are competing in.
In an interview, BOS’ Chairman, Farihin Johari said the organisation is ready to support Johor beyond football. “We hope in the future, BOS is prepared to support not only JDT, but also for other sports like futsal, netball, rugby, sepak takraw, we (hope to be) ready.”.
Another Jury Special category award, for Team, went to Johor’s canoe team for their contribution of 23 gold medals, the largest contributor from the Johor contingent at the Malaysian Sports Games MSN XX 2022 in Kuala Lumpur.
Showing gratitude for the legendary icon, the “Jasamu Dikenang” trophy was handed to Johor-born, former national track runner in the 200m and 400m events, Nordin Mohamed Jadi, who has also groomed more athletes to compete on the world stage.
