Pakistan's Nadeem wins top Asian award, Qatar's Seifeldin is best U20 athlete

Paris Olympic Games javelin hero Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan on Sunday won the Best Athlete of Asia award at a glittering awards ceremony.Qatar's Seifeldin Heneida Abdesalam, who soared to new heights in pole vault last season, was honoured with the prestigious 'Best U20 Athlete of Asia' award at the same ceremony headlined by Asian Athletics Association (AAA) president Dahlan Jumaan al-Hamad.Seifeldin shared the Best U20 Athlete of Asia award with Hayato Shimoda of Japan, a force in the 400m hurdles.At the AAA ceremony, joining Nadeem was Japan's formidable javelin thrower, Haruka Kitaguchi, who claimed the female Best Athlete award, her consistent dominance and inspiring achievements making her a clear choice.Nadeem said on his social media: "Today, I was honoured to receive the ‘Best mMale Athlete of Asia’ award by Asian Athletics. I am humbled and recharged to give better performances."China's Jiale Zhang was celebrated as the best U20 female athlete for her prowess in the hammer throw. The Best U18 Athlete of Asia awards went to China's promising Han Qigeng and the UAE's impressive Mariam Kareem, signifying the depth of talent emerging across the continent.The Best Asian Coach awards went to Korea's Kim Dokyun who received the male coaching accolade, while China's Sui Xinmei was recognized as the leading female coach, both lauded for their strategic brilliance and dedication to nurturing champions.The Chinese Athletics Association was presented with the Best Member Federation certificate, acknowledging their exemplary commitment to developing and promoting athletics within their nation.The Best Administrator Award went to Ms. Helen Delany from Great Britain, a testament to her invaluable contributions to the administrative backbone of the sport.The ceremony also paid tribute to the unsung heroes who have dedicated decades of their lives to the sport. The Longest Serving International Officials certificates were awarded to a distinguished group: Shen Chunde (CHN), C.K. Valson (IND), Wong Tien Choy (SGP), Yang Shande (CHN), Yeung Man Chun (HKG), and S. Govindaraju (SGP), whose unwavering commitment has shaped countless events.A poignant moment of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Loh Lin Kok of Singapore, a well-deserved recognition of his enduring legacy and profound impact on Asian athletics.The Regional Women Excellence Awards celebrated female pioneers and leaders from across Asia: Elvira Shinibekova (UZB) for Central Asia, Wang Leping (CHN) for East Asia, India's legendary Anju Bobby George for South Asia, Obiena Ma Jeanettee (PHI) for Southeast Asia, and Ruqaya Mansoor Alghasara (BRN) for West Asia, each a beacon of inspiration in their respective regions.GUMI, South Korea: President of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) Dahlan Jumaan al-Hamad has praised the working committees of the Asian body for their hard work during the last season.Al-Hamad was delivering his opening speech at the 26th Asian Athletics Congress, Gumi, Korea."It’s my great pleasure to stand before you today, where you have placed your trust in me to lead our continent. Believe me, leading 45 countries, each with its own diversity, is not easy," al-Hamad said."But thanks to the right team you have elected to the council, and with your continued support, we have managed to turn the impossible into possible and accessible," he said."Congratulations to all members who have been elected or reelected. I am confident you will add great value and commitment to Asia. Since the last Congress, we set a roadmap which led to meaningful and satisfactory achievements that I hope all members appreciate. Of course, not everything was easy or simple, but we’ve done our best to bring results to you," he added."On your behalf, I thank President Lord Sebastian Coe for his tireless efforts to promote our sport. I am proud of Asia’s rising achievements in international competitions, including the Olympics," the AA president said."This progress is the result of your hard work and strategic planning. The real credit goes to you and your teams," he said."Stay updated with all circulars from Asian Athletics and World Athletics. Monitor the development of your athletes and federations. Track the progress of our strategic plan. We’ve created a working group to engage with you, 2030 is our target for a transformed Asia. Aim higher, take your athletes to the next level," al-Hamad told AAA member federations."I thank the Korean Athletics Federation and the Local Organizing Committee for hosting this event and allowing us to meet and work closely. I also thank the Council, Committees, Commissions, and our headquarters staff for their tireless work to improve our sport. Our achievements wouldn’t be possible without your collective efforts," he concluded.