SHAMIRUL Shahril Adam Das’ strong performances this year saw him being named Tennis Malaysia’s (TM) player of the year at their Ace Awards on Friday.
The 19-year-old’s most memorable outing was winning the Betamek Kuala Lumpur Open this year.
He also served a surprise at the recent Philippines Sea Games by overcoming Thailand No 1 Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s singles. Wishaya was also the second seed at the Sea Games.
Christian Didier Chin and Suhana Sofia Adam Das, who is the twin sister of Shamirul, ended the season as the top-ranked players on the men and women’s national circuit.
All three players are 19 this year.
TM vice-president Johnson Koh hopes Malaysia's promising young stars will continue to develop well next season.
“Shamirul has achieved some big results this year but besides that, he has also been consistent, which is important,” said Johnson.
“Our young players need to remain hungry. They need to continue improving both physically and mentally.”
Sabah for the first time had two players at the top of the rankings in their respective age groups — Christian (men’s open) and Ryan Chee (boys’ Under-16).
ROLL OF HONOUR — Player of the Year: Shamirul Shahril Adam Das; Head Star of Tomorrow (girls): Anja Samia Nayar; Silverlake Star of Tomorrow (boys): Mitsuki Leong; Most Improved Player: Lim Sze Xuan; Most Outstanding Official: Ghazally Md. Zain; Excellence in Umpiring Award: Syazwan Manja.
National Circuit — Men's Open: Christian Didier Chin; Boys’ Under-16: Ryan Chee; Under-14: Zhahin Ielyas Kamarul Zaman; Under-12: Darrshan Suresh Kumar; Under-10: Afiq Ziyyad Ahmad Firdaus; Under-8: Fawwaz Mustaqeem Kamaruzzaman.
Women's Open: Suhana Sofia Adam Das; Girls’ Under-16: Iman Syuhada Abdullah; Under-14: Chan Yu Chi; Under-12: Wan Noor Hidayah Mohd Yusof; Under-10:Jill Mc Neill; Under-8: Delisha Amanda Ezuwan.