For just the third time since its inauguration in 1967, the Singapore Sports Awards (SSA) will not have a Sportsman of the Year.

Four athletes were nominated for the award this year: table tennis player Gao Ning (2012 ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals Doubles winner), silat's Muhammad Shakir Juanda (2012 world champion), sailor Colin Cheng (finished 15th in the men's Laser at the London Olympics) and wushu's Seet Wee Key (bronze medallist in the 2012 Asian Championships).

The SSA selection panel, however, felt that none of these athletes, despite their achievements, are deserving of the award this year.

Said Jessie Phua, chairman of the SSA 2013: "We acknowledge the athletes for their achievements, however, the bar has been raised and this year, there just wasn't a milestone that was significant enough for us give this award out.

"We won't give the award out just for the sake of it. The recipient must be deserving."

The rest of the awards, including Sportswoman of the Year and the Sportsboy and Sportsgirl of the Year titles, will still be up for grabs at the awards ceremony on June 11.