Asian Athletics Association President Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad (centre) with Best U20 Athlete Seifeldin Heneida Abdesalam of Qatar, Best U20 Athlete of Asia Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and other award winners.
Doha, Qatar: Paris Olympic Games javelin hero Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan on Sunday won the Best Athlete of Asia award at a glittering awards ceremony.
Qatar’s Seifeldin Heneida Abdesalam, who soared to new heights in pole vault last season, was honoured with the prestigious ‘Best U20 Athlete of Asia’ award at the same ceremony headlined by Asian Athletics Association (AAA) President Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad.
Seifeldin shared the Best U20 Athlete of Asia award with Hayato Shimoda of Japan, a force in the 400m hurdles.
At the AAA ceremony, joining Nadeem was Japan’s formidable javelin thrower, Haruka Kitaguchi, who claimed the female Best Athlete award, her consistent dominance and inspiring achievements making her a clear choice.
Nadeem said on his social media: “Today, I was honoured to receive the ‘Best Male Athlete of Asia’ award by Asian Athletics. I am humbled and recharged to give better performances.”
China’s Jiale Zhang was celebrated as the best U20 female athlete for her prowess in the hammer throw. The Best U18 Athlete of Asia awards went to China’s promising Han Qigeng and the UAE’s impressive Mariam Kareem, signifying the depth of talent emerging across the continent.
The Best Asian Coach awards went to Korea’s Kim Dokyun who received the male coaching accolade, while China’s Sui Xinmei was recognized as the leading female coach, both lauded for their strategic brilliance and dedication to nurturing champions.
The Chinese Athletics Association was presented with the Best Member Federation certificate, acknowledging their exemplary commitment to developing and promoting athletics within their nation.
The Best Administrator Award went to Ms. Helen Delany from Great Britain, a testament to her invaluable contributions to the administrative backbone of the sport.
The ceremony also paid tribute to the unsung heroes who have dedicated decades of their lives to the sport. The Longest Serving International Officials certificates were awarded to a distinguished group: Shen Chunde (CHN), C.K. Valson (IND), Wong Tien Choy (SGP), Yang Shande (CHN), Yeung Man Chun (HKG), and S. Govindaraju (SGP), whose unwavering commitment has shaped countless events.
A poignant moment of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Loh Lin Kok of Singapore, a well-deserved recognition of his enduring legacy and profound impact on Asian athletics.
The Regional Women Excellence Awards celebrated female pioneers and leaders from across Asia: Elvira Shinibekova (UZB) for Central Asia, Wang Leping (CHN) for East Asia, India’s legendary Anju Bobby George for South Asia, Obiena Ma Jeanettee (PHI) for Southeast Asia, and Ruqaya Mansoor Alghasara (BRN) for West Asia, each a beacon of inspiration in their respective regions.
