KUALA LUMPUR: Abdul Latif Romly created history as the first para-athlete to be named Best Sportsman of the Year (2016). The 20-year-old Abdul Latif won the prestigious award largely to his record-breaking feats in the T20 (learning disability) men’s long jump at the Rio Paralympics in August last year. Abdul Latif beat an illustrious final field of nominees at the National Sports Awards 2016 ceremony held at a leading hotel here on Wednesday. Abdul Latif’s nomination under the Best Sportsman category was also a first for a para-athlete, although he competed against able-bodied athletes and won at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Sarawak last year. Silat exponent Siti Rahmah Mohd Nasir was crowned as the Best Sportswoman.

Source: The Star April 26, 2017 14:37 UTC