KUALA LUMPUR: For her tireless dedication to lawn bowls, Choo Yih Hwa, better known as ‘Cikgu Choo’ among athletes, was declared the winner of this year’s Olympic Council of Malaysia’s (OCM) Women and Sport Award.

Choo and four other winners received their awards from Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the sixth annual OCM Women and Sport Dinner and Awards Night held at OCM’s Indoor Arena here last night.

The other winners were Raja Puan Sri Datuk Noora Ashikin (Special Award for Leadership); Mazidah Musa (Special Award for Development); Joy and Holloway Cheah for bowling (Partnership Award) and Norzie Khasbi (Special Award for Journalist).

“The Selection Committee selected Choo based on her excellent dedication in producing champions and medal winners at SEA Games, Asia Pacific Games and the Commonwealth, as well as the World Cup since 2000, to the present day.

“As the winner of the main award, her particulars would be sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Malaysia’s nominee for the international award,” said OCM Vice President Low Beng Choo, who is also OCM Women and Sport Committee chairman.

According to Low, Choo has excelled as state and national coach in lawn bowls and has been involved in the sport since the sport was introduced in 1993.

Although Choo was involved in management and umpiring, her passion is coaching and she has attended numerous sport and sport science courses to equip herself for the challenge.

— Bernama