Chuahand Felnidiah UMS Sportsman,Sportswoman By Arfandi Jaafar

KOTA KINABALU: Chuah Jia Peng and Felnidiah Lok Lassim were crowned the 2011Universiti Malaysia Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year at the UMS Sports Awards Ceremony here, Monday. Both winners claimed *the honours after being recognised for their achievements at the Malaysian Universities Sports Council (MASUM) Games, last year. Chuah wonthe award for his in unmatched performance in events,winning seven gold medalsincluding three new records, while sprinter Felnidiah was recognised for her outstanding achievements in the track and field. They each received RM1,000, a trophy and certificate. The UMS swimming sensation from Taiping, , who is a final year medical student, was not present to receive his award, but Felnidiah was all smiles when SPORTSWOMANOF THE YEAR...Peter presentsFelnidiah with the winner'sjacket after the latter wascrowned the UMS2011 by met reporters shortly after the Sportswomanat the2012 UMS Sports Awards ceremony in KotaKinabalu on Monday. Also in the pictureis UMSvice chancellor, Datuk ceremony. Seri PanglimaProfessor Dr KamaruzamanAmpon (left). "I'm really happy and grateful to win this award and I thank she competed in the 200m. But it and for training but I have to do sporting fraternity to look everyone who supported me, " was the 4x100m relay event that my best to cope because both are forward and devise a programme said the 21-year-old lass from Kg shot her to stardom. equally important for me and my to help the ministry and its Landung Ayang, Kudat. She won the gold that year and career, " said Felnidiah. agencies to further develop the Felnidiah was the perfect later repeated the same feat at the Other winners on the night sporting industry in Sabah. candidate for the award, which Games (2008), where include Eldy Sham Irlon, Emmy UMSvice chancellor Datuk Seri also received three other she and her quartet teammates Ahkim and Lee Min Hee. Panglima Professor Dr nominees, Asong Joseph set a new meet record. Eldy and Emmy won the Kamaruzaman Ampon, who was (athletics), Dayang Anak In 2010she ran the hurdles but Promising Sportsman and also present said UMS will Manggie () and failed to win a medal. She began' Promising Sportswoman awards continue its commitment on the Norsyamsiah Waridi (athletics). training under coach, Remy Abu for their athletic achievements on development of sports. Asian There were six nominees for Bakar in 2011and is now aiming for the track, while Lee, the university's He said the staging of the from Korea the sportsmanaward. The others a podium finish with an taekwondo expert won Universities were Asry Abbas (), improvement to her personal best the Best Coach Award. Championships this October (11- Kenson Rubanjar (athletics), time. Lee was also honoured when 13) is a sign of recognition ofUMS' Nitas Camillus Tan Sing Bee "My target this year is to win a her Poomsae trio clinched the ability to organise and host world (athletics), Abdul Azim Azizan medal. I also want to improve on university's Best Team Award. class sporting events. UMS is Abdul Malek (silat) and Pang my personal best time. I'm aiming The university also recorded its Kamaruzaman said the Tsun Kuo (athletics). for somewherein the 14.5srange, " appreciation to the various state- first university in the country to Felnidiah said her passion for she said. level sporting associations in be given the mandate to stage this Sabah international running began when she was in Like many state athletes, as well as to members of prestigious for Primary Six. Since then the young Felnidiah, has her sights on a life- the media their continued championship. starlet has been running long career in sports. support in promoting the UMS has also identified six competitively and is now aiming She hopesto be a coach one day university's efforts to contribute secondary schools in and around for big achievements. and is currently a first year to the development of sports in Kota Kinabalu, whichare adopted She will join the stateathletics bachelor's degree student in the state. for the purpose of identifying and team for the Malaysia Games sports science (first year) to fulfil Meanwhile, Youth and Sports developing taekwondo talents. (SUKMA) in this July, her ambition. Minister Datuk Peter Pang En It is the university's mission where she hopes to improve her But juggling commitments on Yin, who officiated at the and vision to groom the young personal best time of 14.9sin the the track and in class can be quite ceremony hoped the awards. talents through its adopted 100mhurdles. exhausting, admitted Felnidiah. would inspire greater sporting schools programme so that those Felnidiah made her Sukma "I have to struggle sometimes achievements from the students. students will continue their debut at the 2006Games, where to balance my time for my studies He called on UMS and its studies at UMS.