SINGAPORE - A history-making feat at last year's World Championships, as well as a perfect nine-gold outing at the SEA Games has earned swimmer Joseph Schooling another nomination for the Sportsman of the Year award.
The 20-year-old was named as one of four finalists when the shortlist was announced on Thursday afternoon. He is nominated alongside sailing's Colin Cheng, table tennis player Gao Ning and canoeist Mervyn Toh.
Schooling is the reigning Sportsman of the Year, having won the nod last year. He was also the award's youngest recipient when he took the 2012 gong, and had also been nominated in 2014.
Four athletes were also shortlisted in the Sportswoman of the Year award, three of them former winners themselves. Table tennis player Feng Tianwei is a two-time winner (2010, 2013), while bowler Shayna Ng won in 2014. Shooter Jasmine Ser took the award last year. Canoeist Stephenie Chen, who won two golds and a silver at the SEA Games last year, is the fourth nominee.
Of the 11 awards, eight were finalised by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). The finalists for Best Sports Events of the Year (Local and International) and Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year were judged and managed by Sport Singapore.
The main awards selection committee was chaired by Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, who is also president of the SNOC. The awards ceremony will be held on June 23.
Said Dr Tan Eng Liang, Chairperson of Singapore Sports Awards 2016 Organising Committee: "2015 was a banner year for Singapore sports - Team Singapore put on an inspiring performance at the 28th SEA Games and in some sports, they continued to prove their mettle on the world stage. There were indeed many worthy nominations from the National Sports Associations to consider.
"We are proud of what our athletes have achieved in 2015 and look forward to recognise them at the Singapore Sports Awards presentation ceremony on June 23."
Complete list of finalists
Sportsman of the Year:
1. Colin Cheng (Sailing)
2. Gao Ning (Table Tennis)
3. Joseph Schooling (Swimming)
4. Mervyn Toh (Canoe)
Sportswoman of the Year:
1. Stephenie Chen (Canoe)
2. Feng Tianwei (Table Tennis)
3. Shayna Ng (Bowling)
4. Jasmine Ser (Shooting)
Sportsboy of the Year:
1. Adalia Jesse Colin (Wushu)
2. Bernie Chin (Sailing)
3. Quah Zheng Wen (Swmiming)
4. Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau'ddin (Silat)
Sportsgirl of the Year:
1. Jodie Lai (Sailing)
2. Lin Ye (Table Tennis)
3. Joey Yeo (Bowling)
4. Shanti Pereira (Athletics)
Coach of the Year:
1. Balazs Babella (Canoe)
2. Lee Sai Meng (Water Polo)
3. Maryna Tsimashenka (Synchronised Swimming)
4. Neo Beng Siang (Basketball)
5. Ruth Aitken (Netball)
6. Sergio Lopez (Swimming)
7. Zhu Xiao Ping (Gymnastics)
Team of the Year (Event):
1. Shayna Ng, Cherie Tan & New Hui Fen (Bowling Trios Team at the World Women's Championships)
2. Joseph Schooling, Pang Sheng Jun, Danny Yeo & Quah Zheng Wen (4 x 200m Freestyle Team at 28th SEA Games)
3. Stephanie Chen, Crystal Yap, Lee Mei Shuang, Debbie Soh, Natalie Chen, Gwyneth Goh , Geraldine Chew, Miya Yong, Shona Lim, Tay Aik Fen, Carolyn Rayna Buckle & Nadine Khor (Synchronised Swimming Team Routine at the 28th SEA Games )
Team of the Year (Team Sport):
1. Basketball - 28th SEA Games Team
2. Netball - 28th SEA Games Team
3. Water Polo (Men) - 28th SEA Games Team
Sportsboy/Sportsgirl Team of the Year (Event):
1. Yeo Jiamin & Crystal Wong (Badminton - Asia Youth Championship)
2. Jodie Lai Xuan Yi, Daniel Hung, James Koh , Muhd Daniel M Yazid & Koh Yi Nian (Sailing - Optimist World Championship)
3. Adalia Jesse Colin, Etienne Lee, Jowen Lim (Wushu - 28th SEA Games)
Best Sports Event of the Year (Local):
1. Great Eastern Women's Run 2015
2. DBS Marina Regatta 2015
3. Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2015
4. OCBC Cycle 2015
5. OSIM Sundown Marathon 2015
Best Sports Event of the Year (International):
1. BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore Presented by SC Global
2. FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup 2015 Presented by Yakult
3. HSBC Women's Champions 2015
4. OUE Singapore Open 2015
5. 5th FINA World Junior Swimming Championship 2015
Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year:
1. "Singapore tennis player Sarah Pang takes to crowdfunding to play on pro circuit" by Teo Teng Kiat for Yahoo! Singapore
2. "Yip in race against time" by Adelene Wong for TODAY
3. "Liew shows what real class is" by Shanjayan Muniappan for TODAY
4. "From troubled to terrific" by David Lee for The New Paper
5. "Sailing brings second wind in fresh chapter" by May Chen for The Straits Times
6. "On his travels, patience is the greatest weapon" by Rohit Brijnath for The Sunday Times (The Straits Times)
