SINGAPORE –  The battle for honours at the Singapore Sports Awards is set to heat up, with badminton star Loh Kean Yew and silat world champion Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin in contention for the Sportsman of the Year accolade, while former table tennis player Feng Tianwei will be out to bag her fourth Sportswoman of the Year gong.

The trio were among the finalists who were unveiled on Thursday for the annual awards at the Orchard Hotel on Aug 23.

The awards recognise individuals and teams for their performances and achievements in 2022. It is organised by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG), and supported by the Tote Board.

Loh, who was named Sportsman of the Year at the last edition, reached a career-high ranking of world No. 3 in 2022, matching badminton legend Zarinah Abdullah who reached the same milestone in 1994 in the women’s singles.

While he has yet to win a title since becoming world champion in 2021, the 26-year-old won the men’s singles silver at the Hanoi SEA Games and finished runner-up at the 2022 India Open.

Loh was also part of the mixed team that won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Noting that he is “deeply humbled and honoured” to be nominated, he told The Straits Times: “Winning it last year was a remarkable milestone in my career and I am grateful for the support from my team, my coach, fans and family who have helped me to get here. No matter the outcome, I cherish the opportunity to represent our nation and will continue to give my best in the pursuit of sporting excellence.”

Also up for the sportsman gong is Farhan, who won a gold medal at the SEA Games in May 2022 before picking up his fourth world title two months later.

The 25-year-old said: “It’s an honour to be nominated for such an award. It’s always a great feeling to be recognised for our achievements in sports where we work hard to reach higher heights. Congratulations to all the nominees!”

Fencer Jonathan Au Eong, swimmer Teong Tzen Wei and xiangqi player Alvin Woo are the other nominees.

A dream swansong for Feng at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she claimed three golds, put her in contention for a fourth sportswoman award. She had won the award in 2010, 2013 and 2018.

She will come up against silat exponent Siti Khadijah Shahrem, Ngo Lan Huong (xiangqi), Quah Jing Wen (swimming), Cherie Tan (bowling), Contessa Loh (archery), and Teh Xiu Hong (shooting) in the battle for top honours.

Lawrence Leow, chairman of the Singapore Sports Awards organising committee said: “This year we are celebrating sporting excellence in a diversity of sports.

“The finalists include athletes and teams who have performed at the SEA Games, Commonwealth Games, regional and world championships.

“We are looking forward with excitement to recognise and award the deserving recipients who have demonstrated excellence and contributed to Singapore’s sporting journey in 2022.”

Three journalists from The Straits Times – assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath, sports correspondents Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee – were also shortlisted for the Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year.

Nominees (selected)

Sportsman of the Year: Loh Kean Yew (badminton), Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin (silat), Jonathan Au Eong (fencing), Teong Tzen Wei (swimming), Alvin Woo (xiangqi)

Sportswoman of the Year: Feng Tianwei (table tennis), Siti Khadijah Shahrem (silat), Ngo Lan Huong (xiangqi), Quah Jing Wen (swimming), Cherie Tan (bowling), Contessa Loh (archery), Teh Xiu Hong (shooting)

Sportsboy of the Year: Max Lee (diving), Maximilian Maeder (sailing), Nicholas Mahabir (swimming), Aniq ‘Asri Mohammad Yazid (silat), Ronan Tan (wushu)

Sportsgirl of the Year: Elle Koh (fencing), Kassandra Ong (wushu), Colleen Pee (bowling), Nadhrah Sahrin (silat)

Coach of the Year: Helmi Chew (bowling), Gao Ning (table tennis), Joewe Lam (ice hockey), Li Peng (diving), Sheik Alau’ddin Yacoob Marican (silat), Gary Tan (swimming), Teo Shun Xie (shooting)

Team of the Year (team sport): Ice hockey men’s team, tchoukball women’s team, water polo women’s team

Team of the Year (event): Badminton mixed doubles team – Terry Hee, Jessica Tan (Commonwealth Games); fencing women’s foil team – Amita Berthier, Denyse Chan, Cheung Kemei, Maxine Wong (Asian Fencing Championships); shooting pistol women’s team – Teh Xiu Hong, Teh Xiu Yi, Teo Shun Xie (ISSF World Cup Changwon); silat women’s artistic team – Iffah Batrisyia Noh, Amirah Sahrin, Nur Ashikin Zulkifli (Pencak Silat World Championships); table tennis women’s team – Feng Tianwei, Wong Xin Ru, Zeng Jian, Zhou Jingyi (Commonwealth Games)