Winners of Perak Sports Award determined to continue making country proud

IPOH - National Muay Thai exponent Mohamad Rifdean Masdor and national cyclist, Nyo Chi Hui, who were crowned as Perak Sportsman and Sportswoman at the Perak State Sports Awards 2021/2022 last night described the award a morale booster to continue making the state and the country proud.

Mohamad Rifdean, 21, said the award was not only for him but a form of appreciation for all Muay Thai athletes in the country.

"I will do my best after this and my next target is to be nominated for the National Sportsman Award,” he said when met by reporters after receiving the award presented by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah last night.

Mohamad Rifdean defeated two other finalists, lawn bowler Izzat Shameer Dzulkepli and diver, Mohd Syafiq Puteh.

The teen who hails from Kuching, Sarawak, said he started being active in Muay Thai when he was eight years old, thanks to his parents' encouragement. He started training under his coach, Bernard Radin eight years later.

Mohamad Rifdean completed his personal hattrick after winning his third consecutive World Muaythai Championship in Bangkok, Thailand last May.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Chi Hui said she did not expect to be crowned Perak Sportswoman as she knew she had registered herself in the wrong category because she was initially vying for the Promising Sportswoman award.

"I thought I would be taking home an appreciation trophy but as soon as my name was announced, I was really surprised as I didn't expect to win,” said Chi Hui who has been active in cycling since she was 12.

Chi Hui, who clinched the gold medal at the 28th Asian Junior Track Cycling Championships in New Delhi last year, defeated two other female athletes, namely swimmer Joelle Chan Zu Ee and Muay Thai athlete Nur Amisha Azrilrizal.

At the ceremony, the two winners each took home a cash prize of RM7,000, a trophy and a pair of blazers. - BERNAMA