ARAU: Universiti Sains Malaysia, has honoured two Malaysians who have done their country proud with the Anugerah Kencana Canselor award.
Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor received his award from the chancellor, Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, at Istana Arau yesterday.
He received the honour for his contributions to the field of science and space exploration.
The other recipient, the world's top ranking squash player, Datuk Nicol Ann David, could not be present as she was in Hong Kong.
Nicol received the award for her excellence in squash, making Malaysia a known name in the world squash arena.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also presented the Anugerah Pelajaran DiRaja to USM students Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin and Jasy Liew Suet Yan for academic excellence.
Amirul and Liew each received a certificate of appreciation, a gold medal and RM1,000.
USM honours angkasawan, Nicol and students
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's New
The Felda Sungai Tiang Pendang Youth Association came out tops today as the winner of the Youth Association Excellence Award at the 2008 Felda Malaysia Youth Award and Forum (ABFM) ceremony Monday.
The association received a cash prize of RM7,000, financial aid for activities worth RM6,000, funding for educational programmes worth RM25,000, trophies and certificates.
Second and third place went to Felda Aring Gua Musang Youth Association and Felda Pasoh 4 Jelebu Youth Association, respectively.
The prizes were given by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.
At the ceremony, 10 youth icons also received awards in recognition of their achievements and contributions.
Recipients of this award include world squash champion Datuk Nicol Ann David, national mariner Datuk Azahar Mansur, second national astronaut Mejar Dr Faiz Khaleed and polar explorer Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir.
Other recipients include cartoonist Lat or Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, volunteer Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood, motivational expert Datuk Dr Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah, national bowling champion Shalin Zulkifli, first Malaysian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest Marina Ahmad and contemporary nasyid pioneer Kumpulan Raihan.
Meanwhile, disabled youth Mat Jamil Ramli, of Felda Bukit Bading, Terengganu, was announced recipient of a new award, the ABFM Special Judging Panel award.
Mat Jamil, 24, who is a graphic designer for a leading supermarket here, is not only skilled in graphic design but also painting and drawing.
"It is not easy to go through life because people look down on us, but my strength to compete with those who are normal comes from my spirit and support from my family," he said when met by reporters.
Another disabled youth, Muhammad Mat Nayan, from Felda Trolak Timur, Perak, received the Special Personality Award with a prize of RM1,500, trophy and certificate.
Muhammad, 28, who is an educator at a community centre and active in sports, has won almost 20 gold medals in various sports competitions, including weightlifting and wheelchair racing.
-- BERNAMA
The world's leading players were honoured at the fourth annual World Squash Awards took place at the stunning Manchester Town Hall on Saturday the 18th of October, during the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships.
The presentations took place in the appropriate setting of the Great Hall in the historic Manchester Town Hall before a packed gathering of VIPs, players and officials from the sport during the city’s hosting of the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – the first joint staging of the Men’s and Women’s World Opens in the UK.
Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia who went on to win the women's World Open title for a third time in Manchester, won the WISPA Player of the Year Award for the fourth year in a row. David received the award from fellow countryman HRH Prince Tunku Imran, Patron of the WSF and a prime mover in Squash making its debut in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
"Thanks to everybody," said Nicol after receiving the award as voted by the WISPA membership. "Having Squash in the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia really sparked things off for me - and I'm grateful for the great support I've had all the way."
Having reached seven PSA Tour Finals in the past 12 months and reached number three in the World Rankings, England's James Willstrop beat Egyptians Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour to win the PSA Player of the Year Award. "It means a great deal to be recognised by such a distinguished group of people, and at such an event," said the world No3 from Yorkshire after receiving his prize from the newly-elected PSA Chairman Ziad Al-Turki. "And it's quite nice to get one over on Ramy and Shabs!"
Hong Kong's Annie Au won the WISPA Young Player of the Year Award. "I'm very happy to get this award," said the 19-year-old who battled through to the last 16 of the World Open. "I thank Hong Kong Squash for giving me so much support."
Omar Mosaad, a 20-year-old from Cairo, picked up the PSA Young Player of the Year Award. Egyptian national coach Amir Wagih, who collected the award on behalf of Mosaad, was asked the secret of Egypt's success in Squash: "Not for export!" was the former international's brief response!
England international Laura Lengthorn-Massaro won the WISPA Most Improved Player of the Year Award. "It means a lot to me," said the 24-year-old from Lancashire.
There was a surprise Services to Squash Award which was presented to Jim Quigley, Manchester City Council's Head of Major Sports Events and Partnerships. The driving force behind the staging of numerous major Squash events in the city over the past 12 years - including the 2008 World Championships, the National Championships, the British Open and the 2002 Commonwealth Games - Quigley admitted that 'Squash is my passion'.
"I am proud to have been given the opportunity by Manchester City Council to do this," Quigley. "The staging of the Commonwealth Games here led to a legacy programme which has inspired more than 6,000 youngsters to take up the sport - many of whom have played in these championships."
Squash legends Hashim & Azam Khan, together with Australian Geoff Hunt, have been honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the World Squash Awards in Manchester.
Hashim Khan, born in Pakistan in 1916, won the British Open seven times between 1951 and 1958. The distinguished 92-year-old – who only recently gave up playing the sport - journeyed from his home in Denver, USA, to receive his award.
His younger brother Azam Khan, based in the UK, continued the family’s association with the sport’s most coveted title - firstly finishing as runner-up to Hashim in three British Open finals before going on to claim the title four times, from 1959 to 1962!
Geoff Hunt took up the gauntlet thrown down by British hero Jonah Barrington - winning his first British Open crown in 1969 before picking up a total of eight titles by 1981.The presentations were made by Lifetime Achievement Award holder Jahangir Khan, the six times World Open champion and record ten-time British Open champion who ended his six-year reign as President of the World Squash Federation in Manchester.
Jahangir received a Special Award from the WSF. Emeritus President Susie Simcock delivered a citation in which she reminded the star-studded audience that 'JK' first came to prominence in 1979 when he won the World Amateur title, aged 15 - before going on to achieve a remarkable 774-match unbeaten run, over five years and eight months. Perhaps his most notable accolade, however, was the award of 'Sportsman of the Millennium' in Pakistan."Jahangir quite simply represents everything that's good about Squash - and everything that's good about sport," concluded Ms Simcock.
PSA Player of the Year: James Willstrop
PSA Most Improved Player of the Year: Omar Mosaad
WISPA Player of the Year: Nicol David
WISPA Young Player of the Year: Annie Au
WISPA Most Improved Player of the Year: Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
Special awards were made to:
Jim Quigley, Hashim and Azam Khan, Geoff Hunt and Jahangir Khan
For Extras- Visit Squash360
Photos by Fritz Borchert
Datuk Nicol nominated for The Outstanding Young Malaysian Award 2008
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's New
Datuk Nicol Ann David, currently the world's top squash player, is one of 16 finalists of The Outstanding Young Malaysian (TOYM) Awards 2008.
The 25-year-old is joined by Ramajuta Group of Companies executive chairman and managing director Datuk Raymond Chan Boon Siew, Phison Electronics Corporation president Pua Khein Seng and singer Tan Kheng Seong.
Chief judge Prof Datuk Wira Dr Mohammad Noor Salleh said the 16 were shortlisted from a list of 54 nominees.The shortlisting process took two months to complete. The nominees were evaluated based on guidelines which included contributions to the nation.
"It was an extremely difficult filtering process as all the nominees were exceptional in their own way," he said.
The TOYM program of Junior Chamber Malaysia serves to recognize up to ten individuals aged from 18 years to 40 years of age exemplify the best attributes of their country's best individual.
The Outstanding Young Malaysian would be named at a dinner ceremony on Nov 1, organised by the Junior Chamber International Malaysia (JCIM).
The ceremony will highlight each winner's career in narrative form and provide a stage from which the honourees can challenge and inspire young people from around the country. For each honouree, there will be a presentation profiling his/her accomplishments, followed by the trophy presentation, and an acceptance speech.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2008 Nominees WISPA Players of the Year 2008 WISPA PLAYER OF YEAR Nicol David (MAS) Shelley Kitchen (NZL) Madeline Perry (IRL) Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) Samantha Teran (MEX) WISPA YOUNG PLAYER Annie Au (HKG) Nour El Tayeb (EGY) Heba El Torky (EGY) Low Wee Wern (MAS) Dipika Pallikal (IND) WISPA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER Delia Arnold (MAS) Kasey Brown (AUS) Louise Crome (NZL) Line Hansen (DEN) Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) PSA Players of the Year 2008 PSA PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ramy Ashour Amr Shabana James Willstrop PSA YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Aamir Atlas Khan Omar Mosad Tarek Momen Alphabetical Order.
KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin yesterday conferred awards on 297 people at Istana Negara in conjunction with his birthday on June 2.
It is the nation's highest sporting award and only 10 people have received it since it was introduced in 1975.
"I am so happy. This award motivates me further to scale greater heights and if given the opportunity, I look forward to helping more Malaysians to seek excellence in squash," Nicol said after the investiture.
Full article here.
THE Sports Writers Association of Malaysia (SAM) yesterday announced the names of five athletes who are on course for the SAM-100 Plus excellence award and the RM10,000 cash prize that goes with it.
Women's squash World No 1 Nicol David heads the nominations but is closely followed by national shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong. The others are Wong Mew Choo (badminton), Lee Hup Wei (high jump) and Roslinda Samsu (pole vault).
Nicol won the award in 2005, while Kien Keat-Boon Heong won it in 2006.
Athletes are judged based on five elements -- success, discipline, consistency, personality and attraction.
"We are happy to support this event and have been associated with it for five years now," said F & N corporate affairs director Datuk Kamal Harun at a press conference. "And we feel it is the best way to reward an athlete for his or her hard work."
Read Also: Global Recognition
Datuk Nicol in the Malaysia Book of Records
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's New
Top row: Mawi, Dr.Sheikh, Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Guang Liang,
Nicol holds 3 records1) First Back-to-Back World Champion
2) Youngest Asian Champion
3) First World Number One Player
Malaysia's current number one men's squash player and recent CIMB Malaysian Open winner Ong Beng Hee holds the record for First World Junior Champion.
Of course, let us not forget that Nicol was 'knighted' with the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) which carries the title "Datuk" in July. -Making her the youngest Datuk in the Penang state, possibly even the youngest in Malaysia. 
And in June, Nicol was conferred with the 'Order of Merit' by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin. With the conferment, Nicol became the first recipient of the award which was established on June 26, 1975. The award is limited to 10 recipients who have made significant contributions in arts, science and humanity and is given to Malaysians who are renowned at national and international levels.
Visit: The Malaysia Book of RecordsAbdullah Heaps Praises On Nicol, Challenges Olympics-bound Athletes
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's New
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Heaping praises on Malaysia's squash queen Datuk Nicol Ann David, the prime minister has issued a challenge to Malaysian athletes bound for the Beijing Olympics:
Return home with a gold medal!
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reasoned that while children aged eight or nine could bring glory to the country by winning three to four gold medals at the Formula Powerboat Championship in Italy recently, there was no reason why older sportsmen and sportswomen who were in their prime could not emulate that feat.
"The cemerlang (excellence), gemilang (glory) and terbilang (distinction) will be at the Olympics. That is what I want to see...we winning a gold medal.
"We have got silver previously, through badminton where we lost to the Indonesians," he said when fielding a question at the Malaysian Student Leaders Summit here, Saturday.
On the same note, he said Malaysia was once world champions in badminton, winning the Thomas Cup on a regular basis but currently, the situation had changed where the national team was finding it difficult to wrest the coveted cup in badminton.
"The real sport in which we are terbilang is squash, through our own Nicol David. She is not only terbilang but also cemerlang and gemilang. We need to keep on raising our standards," he said of the world number one woman squash player.
-- BERNAMA
Nicol David Overtakes Sarah Fitz-Gerald In World Ranking Records
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's New, WISPA, World Rankings
A month after completing her second full year as world number one, Malaysia's Nicol David now marks her 25th successive month at the top of the August Women's World Squash Rankings - thereby overtaking Australia's Sarah Fitz-Gerald to establish the third-longest unbroken run in the history of the Women's International
Fitz-Gerald, the record five-time World Open champion from Melbourne, topped the rankings unchallenged for 24 months from November 1996 to October 1998 - and went on to achieve a total of 40 months as world number one before retiring five years ago.
Nicol David now has only New Zealander Susan Devoy and
The 24-year-old from
"Nicol reaching this milestone is a sign of the champion she is and a hint of the champion yet to come," said Sarah Fitz-Gerald on hearing the Malaysian's latest achievement.
David heads an unchanged top four, with Natalie Grinham at two; her older sister Rachael Grinham at three and USA's Natalie Grainger at four.
However,
GEORGE TOWN: Datuk Nicol David, who is the state's youngest Datuk, probably will need some time to get used to the title.
Nicol, who was among 497 state award recipients, received the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) award which carries the title Datuk.
The reigning world woman's squash champion will, however, have to postpone celebrations as training and other obligations had her schedule booked for the next two weeks.
"She just got in from Amsterdam on Friday and she'll be leaving for Sarawak on Sunday to fulfil her duties as a United Nations Development Programme ambassador.
"The Malaysian Open and Singapore Open are also around the corner so it's a pretty hectic schedule for her," said Nicol's father Desmond David, 61, who was present at the ceremony.
Squash Queen Nicol Is The Youngest Datuk In Penang
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's NewPENANG, July 12 (Bernama) -- She not only squashed her opponents to become the world number one women's squash player but Nicol Ann David now has the distincion of being the youngest person in Penang to be conferred a datukship.
Nicol, the three-time British Open champion, said she was surprised by the news yesterday that she will be among the 497 people to be conferred state awards in conjuction with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas' 70th birthday celebrations today.
"I am very happy to be here today, and to be recognised by the state government would boost my form in the upcoming tournament," she told reporters after receiving her Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) which carries the title "Datuk" at Dewan Sri Pinang here, Saturday.
Nicol will be defending her Malaysia Open title this year from July 21 to 26 before heading for the Singapore Masters which will be held from July 27 to Aug 2.
Early last month, the 'Squash Queen' was also the first recipient to be conferred the `Order of Merit' from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
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World women's squash number one player Nicol Ann David is on the list of recipients of awards and medals in conjunction with Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas’ 70th birthday tomorrow.
Nicol who was born in Penang, will receive the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN), which carries the title 'Datuk'.
Congratulations Datuk! Join the fans in congratulating Datuk Nicol Ann David through our Fan Forum
Squash Queen Nicol David Is First Recipient Of Order Of Merit
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's NewJune 07, 2008
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=337914
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KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 (Bernama) -- The conferment of the `Order of Merit' by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on national squash queen Nicol Ann David is seen as the country's highest recognition for sports.
With the conferment, Nicol, 24, becomes the first recipient of the award given to Malaysians who are renowned at national and international levels.
Established on June 26, 1975, the award is limited to 10 recipients who have made significant contributions in arts, science and humanity. The award, however, does not carry any title.
"She deserves the award. We in the SRAM (Squash Racket Association of Malaysia) are very proud of her achievement and congratulate Nicol for it.
"The SRAM hopes the award would spur Nicol to progress further in squash. The award is the country's highest recognition to Nicol for her hard work in bringing glory to the country," said SRAM deputy president Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali when contacted by Bernama.
Penang-born Nicol was first introduced to the sport at the age of five and for the following three years, she started to take the sport seriously.
Her successes in the sport include recognition by the Women's International Squash Players Association (Wispa) with the latest success being the British Open title which she wrested in May.
For the record, Nicol has won 27 titles in the Wispa World Tour series as of May out of the total of 79 championships which she had competed in since 2000.
She is currently competing in the Seoul Squash Open Championship in South Korea from June 2 to 7 to lift her fourth title for this year.
Besides Nicol, several other athletes, former athletes, and sports association officials have also been conferred awards in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's birthday.
Nicol Crowned 2007 National Sportswoman
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's NewMay 14, 2008
The petite Penang lass, simply known as "Pocket Dynamite" who enjoyed the best year of her career in 2007, winning eight WISPA World Tour titles from ten final appearances despite the World Open eluding her grasp, also beat 12 other nominees for the award.
The 24-year-old who was voted Asian Sportswoman of 2007 by the Asian Sports Press Union by beating about 100 other illustrious names in Asia, has also won the WISPA Player of the Year for three years in a row starting 2005.
Last year, she won the CIMB KL Open, Kuwait Open, Qatar Classic, Qatar Open, Malaysian Open, Singapore Masters, Dutch Open, Hong Kong Open and capped a brilliant year by capturing her sixth consecutive Asian Championship though she failed to defend her World Open title for the third year in a row.
Nicol was also not at the ceremony to receive her award as she is still in England.
Nicol's father, Desmond David received the award on behalf of her daughter while BAM Vice President Datuk Roland Wong received on behalf of Koo Ken Keat-Tan Boon Heong.
Nicol said by telephone from England that she was sorry that she could not attend but thanked the National Sports Council for awarding her the award while Ken Keat-Boon Heong who spoke over the phone from Jakarta said they felt sad and sorry that they could not be present at the ceremony to receive their awards.
26 In Running For Athletes Of The Year Awards
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's New____
26 In Running For Athletes Of The Year AwardsYang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is scheduled to grace the occasion to be held at the Palace of Golden Horses Hotel in Seri Kembangan here.
The process of selecting the athletes was done by a selection committee chaired by Datuk Mohd Yasin Mohd Salleh, the secretary-general of the Youth and Sports Ministry, the National Sports Council's public relations unit said in a statement today.
The women athletes in contention are Wong Mew Choo (badminton), Chow Siao Foong (basketball), Shalin Zulkifli (bowling), Quzandria Nur Mahamad Fathil (equestrian), Lim Wen Chen (rythmic gymnastics), G. Yamini (karate-do), Siti Zalina Ahmad (lawn bowls), Roslinda Samsu (athletics), Ng Sock Khim (table-tennis), Khoo Cai Lin (swimming), Nicol Ann David (squash), Che Chew Chan (taekwondo) and Chai Fong Yin (wushu).
-- BERNAMA
Saturday May 10, 2008- The Star Online
http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/5/10/sports/21212717&sec=sports
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PETALING JAYA: Badminton and squash players are set to win top honours at the National Sports Awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
will be given out in recognition of last year’s achievements.Men’s doubles shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are the frontrunners, ahead of 12 other candidates for the 2007 Sportsman award.
Nicol David Extends World Ranking Lead
Labels: Awards and Honours, Latest News, Off the T, What's NewApril 1st 2008 - PRESS RELEASES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS MOVEMENT
http://www.sportsfeatures.com/index.php?section=pp&action=show&id=46090
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Malaysia's Nicol David has maintained her lead at the top of the April Women's World Squash Rankings, published today (Tuesday) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).
Victory in last month's CIMB KL Open on home soil - where David notched up her 40th Tour final appearance - takes the 24-year-old from Penang into her 21st successive month at the top of the WISPA list.
Natalie Grinham, who celebrated her maiden Tour appearance as a Dutch player in the KL Open, holds onto second place for the 15th month in a row after finishing as runner-up in Kuala Lumpur.
Natalie's sister Rachael Grinham, from Australia, remains at three, while American Natalie Grainger is at No4, and England's Tania Bailey at No5.
Jenny Duncalf, runner-up in last December's Carol Weymuller Open in New York, is the highest riser - moving two places to a career-high equalling No6 to become the second-placed English player in the list.
Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu, who beat Duncalf in the KL Open, also rises to a former career-best No13.
But two players celebrate best-ever positions in the April rankings: New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes consolidates her position in the top 20 by moving up a single place to No17 - boosted by title success in last month's NSC Tour 12 No1 in Malaysia.
After becoming the first Mexican to make the world top 20 in February, Samantha Teran now moves up to 19 after clinching her second WISPA World Tour title of the year last month at the Windy City Open in Chicago.
Sharon Wee returns to the top 20 for the first time this year - doubling the Malaysian content of the elite group by returning to No20.
1 [1] Nicol David MAS
2 [2] Natalie Grinham NED
3 [3] Rachael Grinham AUS
4 [4] Natalie Grainger USA
5 [5] Tania Bailey ENG
6 [8] Jenny Duncalf ENG
7 [7] Shelley Kitchen NZL
8 [6] Vicky Botwright ENG
9 [9] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
10 [10] Vanessa Atkinson NED
11 [11] Alison Waters ENG
12 [12] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro ENG
13 [14] Rebecca Chiu HKG
14 [13] Madeline Perry IRL
15 [15] Kasey Brown AUS
16 [16] Engy Kheirallah EGY
17 [18] Jaclyn Hawkes NZL
18 [17] Annelize Naude NED
19 [20] Samantha Teran MEX
20 [22] Sharon Wee MAS
For the complete WISPA ranking list, see www.wispa.net
Issued by Howard Harding on behalf of WISPA
Women’s International Squash Players' Association
Tel: (+44) 1737-243333; Mobile: (+44) 7773-325130; Email: HowHard@aol.com
WISPA: Tel: (+44) 20 7222 1667; Email: wispahq@aol.com
WSQ 4405 1 April 2008
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