Two current world champions, a rising gymnast and the gold medal winners in the 2018 Asian Para Games lead the list of major awardees to be honored during the SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Annual Awards Night on Feb. 26 at The Manila Hotel.
Reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, World Boxing Organization (WBO) counterpart Donnie Nietes, World Artistic Gymnastics Championships bronze medalist Carlos Yulo and the Philippine Para Chess Team along with fellow Asian Para Games winners make up part of the 23 major awardees who will be recognized by the country’s sportswriting fraternity during the event presented by Milo, Cignal TV and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Ancajas defended his IBF
115-pound title thrice last year, Nietes won the WBO belt just before the turn of 2019 in Japan, Yulo became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian male gymnast to win a medal in the world meet, while the Philippine team in the Asian Para Games bagged 10 gold medals in Indonesia.
Para swimmer Ernie Gawilan, Arthus Bucay (para cycling), Kim Ian Chi (para bowling), Sander Severino (para chess) and the Para Chess Team (Standard P1 men, Standard B2-B3 men and Rapid B-1men are members of the national team that accomplished the country’s best finish yet in the quadrennial meet.
A total of 75 awardees make up the 2018 honor toll list led by Athletes of the Year Hidilyn Diaz, Yuka Saso and fellow Philippine women’s golf team members Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, and Margielyn Didal.
OTHER MAJOR AWARDEES: Thirdy Ravena (amateur basketball), San Miguel Beer (pro basketball), Meggie Ochoa (jiujitsu), Christian Tio (kiteboarding)