Guangzhou, November 26 - The 16th Asian Games Samsung Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award ended its selection and was given to Chinese Badminton player Lin Dan. It is regarded as the supreme honour for the athletes, recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC).
Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Olympic Committee Liu Baoli (left) receives the Guangzhou Asian Games Samsung MVP Award on behalf of Lin Dan.
Manuel Silverio, Chairman of the OCA Media Committee, delivers a speech at the award ceremony.
The Guangzhou Asian Games MVP was selected by world media through voting. From November 22 to 25, over 2,000 accredited media staff cast their votes at the Main Press Centre of the Guangzhou Asian Games Town. Five athletes with the most votes became the candidates, including Chinese Badminton player Lin Dan, hurdler Liu Xiang and swimmer Sun Yang and Tang Yi as well as Korean swimmer Park Taehwan. Finally Lin Dan received the largest number of votes. The result has been confirmed by a selection committee comprising representatives of the OCA, GAGOC, media, retired athletes and Samsung.
At the award ceremony on Friday, one day before the Closing Ceremony of the 16th Asian Games, Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Olympic Committee Liu Baoli received the award (the MVP Trophy, a Samsung 3D LED Television and US$50,000) on behalf of Lin Dan, who is under close-door training for the China Open.
Manuel Silverio, Chairman of the OCA Media Committee, said, "We are very delighted to give this trophy to Lin Dan, taking his excellent performance into consideration during the Asian Games. He is tenacious, strong-minded and determined to pursue sportsmanship and has presented perfect performance as an athlete."
Lin Dan won two gold medals at the Guangzhou Asian Games. The victory marks his achievement of a Badmintion Grand Slam with glories from all the top world competitions, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, Surdiman Cup, Thomas Cup and Asian Games.
