Shuttler Lin Dan honoured as most valuable player of Asiad

GUANGZHOU - Chinese badminton superstar Lin Dan was awarded the Samsung Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Asian Games.

MVP 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).

Lin won two gold medals — men’s singles and team event– at the Asian Games. It completes his triumph in all the top world competitions, including the Olympics, World Championships, World Cup, Surdiman Cup, and Thomas Cup.

The Guangzhou Asian Games MVP was selected by world media through voting.

Over 2,000 accredited media persons cast their votes at the Main Press Centre of the Guangzhou Asian Games Town Nov 22-25.

Besides Lin, hurdler Liu Xiang, swimmer Sun Yang and Tang Yi as well as Korean swimmer Park Taehwan were in the hunt. But the badminton star pipped them, receiving the largest number of votes. The result was confirmed Friday by a selection committee comprising representatives of the OCA, GAGOC, media, retired athletes and Samsung.

At the award ceremony Friday, a day before the closing ceremony, deputy secretary general of the Chinese Olympic Committee Liu Baoli received the award (the MVP Trophy, a Samsung 3D LED Television and $50,000) on behalf of Lin, who is undergoing a closed-door training for the China Open.

“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. He has given a perfect performance,” Manuel Silverio, OCA media committee chairman, was quoted as saying in the Games official website.