Singapore Sailing Federation

Two of Singapore's most promising sailors, Elizabeth Yin and Darren Choy, have been nominated by TODAY and The Straits Times for the Athlete of the Year awards.

Vote for Elizabeth and Darren!

TODAY'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2009

Nominees
Elizabeth Yin, 18, Sailing
Hariss Harun, 19, Football
Quah Ting Wen, 17, Swimming
Feng Tianwei, 23, Table Tennis
Jasmine Ser, 19, Shooting

HOW TO VOTE: Readers and fans of any of the stars on the list can email who you think should be the winner to sports@mediacorp.com.sg by Thursday, 7 January 2010.

Last year, Elizabeth Yin, who is waiting for her A-level exam results, proved her world titles in the Byte (2006) and Laser 4.7 (2008) was no flash in the pan when she captured the Laser Radial crown at the Volvo Youth World Championships in Brazil.

The event is regarded as one of sailing' s most prestigious after the Olympics and World Championships, and pushes her claim as a possible contender at the 2012 Olympics.

"It's really unexpected! I didn't even know there was such an honour roll," said Yin. "I wasn't expecting this, especially as there was only the Youth Worlds last year. But nonetheless, it's really good to be shortlisted." -- TAN YO-HINN

More about Elizabeth:
Birthday: 8 August 1991
Schools attended: Nanyang Girls High School, Victoria Junior College
Notable achievements: 2006 Byte World Champion, 2008 Laser 4.7 World Champion, 2009 Volvo ISAF Youth World Champion, qualified Singapore for the 2008 Olympic Games in the Laser Radial event

(5 Jan 09: Elizabeth added another feather to her cap yesterday, winning the women's title at the 2009 Australian National Laser Championship. Find out more here!)

THE STRAITS TIMES' ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2009

Nominees

Darren Choy, 15, Sailing, Singapore Sports School
Darren spent the year knocking the wind out of sailors everywhere. At the inaugural Asian Youth Games in July, the teenager won nine of 11 races to win a near-perfect gold. Months later, he grabbed the Byte CII World Championship. Not bad for a kid who first got into a boat six years ago.

More about Darren:
Birthday: 28 January 1994
Schools attended: St Hilda's Primary School, Singapore Sports School (current)
Notable achievements: 2008 Optimist World Team Racing Silver Medalist, 2009 Byte CII World Champion & Asian Champion, 2009 Asian Youth Games Champion

Aleksandar Duric, 39, Football
Quah Ting Wen, 17, Swimming
Feng Tianwei, 23, Table Tennis
Jasmine Ser, 19, Shooting

IT IS the time of the year when this newspaper picks The Straits Times Athlete of the Year.

And there is no shortage of candidates for the award, which was instituted to recognise the Singapore athlete who not only performs but also inspires, who not only impresses us but also lifts us.

This year's contenders are diverse - two males and three females from five different disciplines.

There is a 15-year-old sailor and a greying 39-year-old footballer. There is a world-class table tennis star, a swimmer whose medals would fill a cupboard and an upcoming shooter who wears a shy grin but carries a rifle.

Only one will win the award, but all have already won our admiration.

Over the next few weeks, The Straits Times will tell how.

Readers will get their chance to write on the athlete or team that inspired them this year, and vote for their picks online. Look out for details in The Straits Times this week.