Jojo Ghazali, the national takraw squad chosen as the recipient of the SAM Special Award
Muhammad Johan, skuad regu dan double sepak takraw negara dipilih sebagai penerima Anugerah Khas pada majlis Anugerah SAM-100PLUS 2023 yang akan berlangsung pada Khamis. - Foto Astro AWANI
05/06/2024
Muhammad Johan, the national sepak takraw team and doubles squad was selected as the recipient of the Special Award at the SAM-100PLUS 2023 Award ceremony which will take place on Thursday. - Astro AWANI's photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The country's young martial arts athlete Muhammad Johan Ghazali Zulfikar (Jojo), the national team and double sepak takraw squad was selected as the recipient of the Special Award at the Sports Writers Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS 2023 Awards ceremony which will take place this Thursday .
SAM Vice President Mohd Hazreen Mubarak said in a statement yesterday that it follows the proud achievements of the athletes last year, thus qualifying them to receive the award this year.
"Jojo's talent came into focus when he won gold at the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) 2022. He deserves to be set as an example for the country's young athletes. In addition, the high fighting spirit shown by the singles and doubles teams when they defeated Thailand during the day has its own value.
"SAM sees the achievements of Jojo and the sepak takraw squad as a piece of history, therefore as Jojo deserves, the Malaysian sepak takraw squad and doubles were selected to receive this Special Award," he said in a statement issued by SAM yesterday.
Last May, the national takraw squad won two gold medals and one silver medal at the 2024 World Cup.
The doubles team lined up by Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin and Aidil Aiman Azwawi started the championship with a straight set win 17-16, 15-14 before the excellence was continued by the national team.
The squad consisting of Farhan Adam, Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi (back) and Mohamad Azlan Alias (right flank) and Muhammad Haziq Hairul Nizam who came in as a substitute also managed to perform well to record a 15-7, 15-12 victory to confirm the title of champion belongs to Malaysia.
In the meantime, Jojo, 17, defeated Edgar Tabares who is the WBC international Muay Thai champion in his Primetime US ONE Championship debut last year.
The Sarawak-born athlete representing Rentap Muay Thai Gym made his own history when he needed only 36 seconds to knock out his more experienced opponent through a knockout in the first round.
The streak of success, Jojo has never experienced a defeat with four consecutive wins in addition to being offered a contract worth US$100,000.
The special award will be presented at a ceremony scheduled to take place on June 6 at the Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
