WKN World and European amateur champion Daniel “The Jet” Zahra, of the Ying Yang kickboxing club, Malta, has been nominated for the Maltese, ‘Sportsman of the Year Award.’

The organisers of the 2010 Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali are planning to commemorate the contest’s 40th anniversary in style with a lavish presentations night at the Mediterranean Conference Centre on January 29.

The contest, hosted jointly by the Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports and the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport, rewards the achievements of athletes, officials and administrators over the past 12 months.

The nominations for 2010 are:

Sportsman of the Year: A. Borg (snooker), S. Camilleri (waterpolo), W. Chetcuti (shooting), M. Cremona (table football), E. Bonello (cycling), S. Bajada (football), S. Deguara (basketball), B. Hindle Deguara (squash), M. Bonello (athletics), D. Zahra (kickboxing), N. Baldacchino (horse racing), M. Zammit (triathlon), H. Camilleri (hillclimb), M. Gauci (table football), M. Cassar (shooting), M. Formosa (cycling), C. Pace (chess), S. Giordmaina (drag racing), T. Drago (snooker), M. Spiteri (bowling).

Sportswoman of the year: R. Brincat Thoresen (basketball), J. Grima (basketball), M.C. Aquilina (cycling), E. Bezzina (shooting), D. Bonello Spiteri (cycling/triathlon), R. Camilleri (athletics), S. Abela (bowling), M. Bezzina (judo), J. Pace (table ­tennis), D. Mangion (swimming), A. Micallef (swimming), N. Gatt (weightlifting), K. Cassar (tennis).

Official of the year: M. Mifsud Bonnici (sports nutrition), E. Azzopardi (football), B. Vassallo (basketball), J. Caruana Curran (snooker), A. Mizzi (basketball), F. Camilleri (basketball), V. Degiorgio (pool), J. Caruana (weightlifting), M. Dalli (waterpolo), M. Angilleri (waterpolo), T. Camilleri (snooker), S. Catania (table football).

Team of the year: Birkirkara FC, Valletta FC, basketball (men and women), pool, Senglea regatta, 4x100 medley (swimming), triathlon team, rugby team, swimming (FISEC), D. Vella/C. Farrugia (shooting), T. Mifsud/I. Rizzo (snooker), table football.

U-17: C. Sultana (squash), D. Bajada (table-tennis), J. Saywell (judo), N. Gatt (athletics), M. Sammut (swimming), M. Sciberras (athletics), T. Farrugia (athletics), N. Xuereb (shooting), T. Vella (athletics), A. Agius (swimming), R. Cassar (swimming), L. Pace (karting), A. Galea (karting), L. Gauci (karate), J. Micallef Stafrace (golf), N. Muscat (swimming).

Athletes with special needs: C. Dalli, A. Azzopardi.

The Ying Yang Kick Boxing Club was set up in 1996 by Master Noel Mercieca a 4th Dan Black Belt and is located in the town of Fgura.

If a club’s success is to be measured by its results, than this club would certainly qualify amongst the top in the Maltese islands. Ying Yang athletes have over the past years amassed an impressive amount of titles both on the national and international scene.

Ying Yang is also home to one of the leading Kick Boxers on the island – Daniel “The Jet” Zahra – trained by Master Mercieca – Daniel has fought both as an amateur & semi pro and has won several international tournaments, such as the WKN European and world Championships titles.