40 tahun lalu, Misbun Sidek dan Norsham Yoon telah dinobatkan Olahragawan dan Olahragawati Kebangsaan sebagai penghargaan ke atas kecemerlangan yang diraih sepanjang tahun 1983.
Penghormatan Misbun Sidek yang dinobatkan Olahragawan Kebangsaan 1983 bukan tanpa kontroversi kerana tahun itu bermulanya kerjaya beliau sebagai pemain badminton profesional. Pada masa itu, hanya atlet amateur diisytiharkan untuk layak menerima anugerah tersebut. Namun, segala pencapaian Misbun sebelum beliau menjadi pemain profesional pada bulan Oktober tidak dapat dinafikan. Dalam pencalonan akhir, beliau berjaya mengatasi naib juara Piala Dunia Boling, Michael Chuah, dan pemain bola sepak Zainal Abidin Hassan.
Kejayaan Misbun pada awal 1983 termasuk menjuarai Kejohanan Terbuka Jerman dan Sweden. Beliau berjaya menewaskan Steen Fladberg 15-13, 15-6 pada perlawanan akhir Kejohanan Terbuka Jerman 1983. Manakala di pusingan akhir Kejohanan Sweden, beliau menyerlah sebagai juara bertahan setelah menewaskan Morten Frost 9-15, 15-10, 15-13. Misbun turut mara ke pusingan separuh akhir Piala Dunia Badminton pada bulan Ogos tetapi malangnya kalah kepada Hastomo Arbi dari Indonesia.
Sementara itu, Olahragawati Kebangsaan dianugerahkan kepada juara rejam lembing, Norsham Yoon, yang menewaskan pemain hoki Mary Soo dan perenang Helen Chow pada pencalonan akhir. Noorsham merupakan satu-satunya atlet wanita yang mewakili Malaysia di edisi sulung Kejohanan Dunia Olahraga 1983 bersama Raja Pecut, Rabuan Pit. Pada tahun yang sama, Norsham berjaya memenangi pingat emas pertama Malaysia dalam sukan rejam lembing di Sukan SEA, setelah menyingkirkan juara edisi 1981 dan atlet legenda Erlinda Lavandia dari Filipina.
1983 NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDS
Misbun Sidek & Norsham Yoon
40 years ago, Misbun Sidek and Norsham Yoon were crowned Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year as an acknowledgement of their outstanding success throughout 1983.
Misbun Sidek winning Sportsman of the Year was not without its controversy as 1983 marked the year he became a professional badminton player. At the time, professional athletes were declared ineligible to win the award. However, it was argued that Misbun’s achievements prior to turning professional in October that year warranted a nomination. In the final cull of nominees, he won the award over Bowling World Cup runner-up, Michael Chuah, and footballer Zainal Abidin Hassan.
His achievements earlier in 1983 included winning the German Open and Swedish Open. Misbun defeated Steen Fladberg 15-13, 15-6 at the 1983 German Open finals. At the final round of the 1983 Swedish Open, he became the defending champion after defeating Morten Frost 9-15, 15-10, 15-13. Misbun also reached the semi-finals of the Badminton World Cup in August, but unfortunately lost to Hastomo Arbi from Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Sportswoman of the Year was awarded to javelin champion Norsham Yoon, who defeated hockey player Mary Soo and swimmer Helen Chow in the final round of nominations. Norsham was the only female athlete to represent Malaysia at the inaugural 1983 World Athletic Championships held in Helsinki, Finland alongside “Raja Pecut” Rabuan Pit. In the same year, she won Malaysia’s first SEA Games gold medal in javelin after dethroning 1981 champion and Filipino legend, Erlinda Lavandia.
