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SINGAPORE : Table-tennis player Gao Ning and teenage swimming sensation Tao Li have been named this year's Sportsman and Sportswoman respectively.
The winners were revealed by the Singapore Sports Awards Selection Committee on Wednesday.
25-year-old Gao Ning clinched the Sportsman title for his gold medal performance at last year's SEA Games and Commonwealth Championship, as well as his 10th placing in the World Ranking.
His win is significant as it is the first time a male paddler has won the honour.
For 18-year-old Tao Li, it was her second consecutive Sportswoman title. This time, she won for her triple gold medal performance at the SEA Games and her 7th placing in the FINA World Championship.
The Coach of the Year award went to football's Radojko ("Raddy") Avramovic - his first title in the annual Sports Awards. The last football coach to win the award was Jita Singh in 1981.
Meanwhile, Raddy's charges in the National Football Team clinched Team of the Year - mainly for winning last year's ASEAN Cup and their excellent run in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The award comes at the right time as the team prepares for some crucial World Cup qualifying matches.
Raddy said: "It is good timing, and I think at least when we have training (sessions), that is on back of their minds, that people recognise what they do and that will give them the push and strength to do more."
The National Women's Table-tennis Team - comprising Li Jiawei, Wang Yue Gu, Sun Bei Bei, Tan Paey Fern and Yu Meng Yu - won the Team of the Year award for Events.
Shooter Jonathan Koh clinched the Sportsboy title, while bowler Jazreel Tan won the Sportsgirl award.
It was an issue-free selection for the committee, but they are looking at making the awards more inclusive.
Chris Chan, Secretary General, Singapore National Olympic Council, said: "In the last year, there was a situation whereby bowling was going to nominate three coaches... so we have to (seriously) address this, whether the situation will arise again, and if it does, how will the selectors address this."
All the winners will be honoured in a ceremony to be held on June 24 at the Marina Mandarin Hotel. Besides their trophies, they will also win for themselves cash awards. - CNA/ms
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