LAWN bowls coach Choo Yih Hwa bagged the Olympic Council of Malaysia's 2008 Women and Sport Award at the sixth annual OCM Women and Sport Dinner and Awards Night in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob presented the awards to the five winners.

"The Selection Committee selected Yih Hwa based on her dedication in producing champions and medal winners at Sea Games, Asia Pacific Games, and the Commonwealth Games as well as the World Cup since 2000 to the present day," said OCM vice president Low Beng Choo.

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

Yih Hwa excelled as a state and national coach in lawn bowls and has been involved in the sport since it was introduced in Malaysia in 1993.
"As the winner of the main award, her particulars will be sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Malaysia's nominee for the international award," added Beng Choo, who is also the chairperson of OCM's Women and Sport Committee.