TODAY editor wins inaugural Sports Journalist of the Year award

SINGAPORE — TODAY editor Low Lin Fhoong clinched the inaugural Sports Journalist of the Year prize at this year’s Singapore Sports Awards.

At the ceremony held at Marina Bay Sands on Wednesday (July 18) evening, Ms Low beat four other nominees in her category to clinch the award, which comes with a cash prize of S$2,000 and a trophy.

The other nominees for the award were Mr Duncan Elias (Eleven Sports), Mr Kenneth Tan (FourFourTwo), Mr Lim Say Heng (The Straits Times) and Mr Shamir Osman (The Straits Times).

The 39-year-old veteran, who has 10 years of journalism experience under her belt, accepted the award from Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu.

"It is a huge honour to win this award for the first time, and I would like to thank my colleagues — both past and present — and bosses who have guided and helped me through the years,” said Ms Low.

She added: “It is a tough time to be a sports journalist in today's challenging media environment, and I hope we can continue to tell the stories of some of Singapore sport's most inspiring and passionate athletes, and the people who have supported them.”

Ms Low has previously bagged two awards at the Singapore Sports Awards — the Most Inspiring Sports Story of the Year — for two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015.

At the ceremony, Olympic champion Joseph Schooling won the Sportsman of the Year award for a record fifth time.

Schooling, who won a bronze medal at the World Championships last year, edged wushu's Jowen Lim and cyclist Calvin Sim to the prize. He also won six SEA Games gold medals in Kuala Lumpur.

Schooling also won the award in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

The Sportswoman of the Year goes to table tennis player Feng Tianwei.

Sailor Mohammad Daniel Kei is crowned Sportsboy of the Year, and the Sportsgirl of the Year goes to synchronised swimmer Debbie Soh.