by Amy Ding
The Laureus China Sports Awards originated from Laureus World Sports Awards and is dubbed ‘the Oscars’ of the Chinese sports world.
The World No.1 Ma Long, who won the “Best Male Athlete of the Year” in 2016 is nominated for the same award again this year. Besides successfully retaining his World Championship title in 2017, the 28-year-old has become the first player in history to defend the Men’s Singles title at the China National Games.
Grand Slam Champion Ding Ning is nominated for two awards; the “Best Female Athlete of the Year” and “The Most Popular Female Athlete of the Year”. Ding Ning is the current World Champion and claimed the Women’s Singles title at the 2017 China National Games.
The 2017 Women’s Doubles World Champion duo Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen, are shortlisted for the “Best Pair of the Year”.
The Laureus China Sports Awards also nominated Zhang Jike as “The Most Popular Male Athlete of the Year” and Sun Yingsha, the 16-year-old rising star as the “Best Newcomer of the Year”.
The winners will be crowned at the Laureus China Sports Awards ceremony on 20th December 2017.