From Grassroots to Greatness: The 56th MOE-MSSM-MILO® Sports Awards Honours Malaysia’s Young Sporting Champions Who Excel in Both Sports and Studies

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Putrajaya, 29 April 2025 - The 56th MOE-MSSM-MILO® Sports Awards 2024 honours Malaysia’s outstanding young athletes who demonstrate not only exceptional skill in their chosen sports but also remarkable dedication to academic excellence. Each year, these awards highlight students who balance dedicated training sessions alongside an active school timetable, showcasing discipline, resilience, and character as hallmarks of their journey.

Behind each student’s success is an inspiring story—filled with early mornings, personal sacrifices, and unwavering encouragement from coaches, families, and teachers. These student-athletes stand as examples, illustrating how sports nurture qualities that help shape confident, capable young Malaysians ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Rising Stars: Young Athletes Balancing Sports, Studies, and Life
Dania Sofea Binti Zaidi, 17, a badminton athlete from Johor and recipient of the Anugerah Puteri MSSM, balances training and academics with unwavering discipline, viewing both as important "matches" that demand focus. Her father's encouragement fuels her determination “He never stops reminding me not to give up easily and to always give my best every time I step onto the court," Sofea movingly shares. Inspired by the presence of MILO® and their featured athletes since young, Dania has developed mental resilience and strategic thinking through badminton, applying these lessons to every part of her life as she pursues her dreams.

Aleeya Fariesya Binti Faizul Rizal, 20, a para-swimmer from Putrajaya and recipient of the Anugerah Puteri Para, has built discipline and resilience through her sporting journey. Despite facing unique challenges as a para-athlete, Aleeya remains motivated by small victories and community support. She admits, "I always feel nervous and scared when going to compete in a tournament, afraid of failure. However, with each race, I learn something new, drawing strength from my family and the pride of representing Malaysia.” Balancing training and academics through strong organisation, Aleeya continues to champion greater inclusivity for para-athletes in Malaysia.

Shurizan Bin Mansor, recipient of the Anugerah Guru Berjasa (Lelaki), has spent over 40 years developing hockey talent in Perlis through Tunas Cemerlang and MSSM, leading Perlis to the SUKMA 2010 final and two Division 2 league titles. His students have gone on to national success, with Shurizan managing Malaysia’s teams to a Silver (Men) and Bronze (Women) at the Asian Indoor Hockey Cup. “As a son from Perlis, I feel a responsibility to give back through hockey. The potential of Perlis players drives me to guide them to success. This award strengthens my belief that with sincere guidance, we can help young athletes achieve their dreams and bring pride to the state," he says, reflecting his lifelong dedication to grassroots sports and youth development.

MILO®’s Commitment: Shaping Champions, Building Character
For over six decades, MILO® has stood side-by-side with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and MSSM, working collaboratively to cultivate Malaysia’s future through sports from the grassroots upwards. This enduring partnership has enabled MILO® to nurture generations of young athletes, fostering essential values such as teamwork, perseverance, and integrity through structured sports programmes across the nation.

Sports is a powerful teacher, imparting invaluable life lessons to students both on and off the playing field. Through sustained grassroots programmes, MILO® continues to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate, learn, and grow—helping them become not just accomplished athletes, but future leaders and role models.

The 56th MOE-MSSM-MILO® Sports Awards 2024 reflect MILO®’s ongoing role in championing young Malaysians, providing a platform for them to discover their fullest potential, while highlighting the enduring impact of sport as a cornerstone of personal and community development.

Lim Kerwin, Head of Sports Marketing, MILO®, Nestlé Malaysia, shared, “At MILO®, we believe Sports is a Great Teacher—and these students embody that truth. Each of their stories is a testament to the positive influence sports can have on young lives, and a reflection of how sports cultivate mental agility. We celebrate their journey and remain dedicated to nurturing the next generation, knowing the values gained through sport will positively shape strong individuals both in sports and in life.”

“Through our longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Education and MSSM, initiatives like the 56th MOE-MSSM-MILO® Sports Awards 2024 allow us to support and celebrate these inspiring journeys. For over 75 years—Dulu, Kini, dan Selamanya Demi Malaysia—MILO® has proudly nurtured generations who carry these values beyond sports, into every aspect of their lives.”

For more information on MOE-MSSM-MILO® Awards 2024, please visit www.MILO.com.my.

About MILO®

MILO® is the leading nutritious chocolate malt beverage in Malaysia beloved for its iconic taste.  Packed with the goodness of malt barley, milk and cocoa with a unique blend of 6 vitamins and 3 minerals, MILO® has fuelled generations of champions with the energy to go further. For over 70 years, MILO® has grown alongside Malaysia and been a vital part of the nation’s sports heritage, providing athletes the nutrition as well as the platform to grow and flourish through the various MILO® grassroots sports programmes.

About Nestlé Malaysia: Nourishing Malaysians for Over a Century

Since 1912, Nestlé has been dedicated to nourishing Malaysians and building their trust through our high-quality brands and products. We contribute to food security as well as to the health and well-being of the Rakyat through our trusted brands and a long-term commitment to Malaysia in the form of investments, employment, and various initiatives that uplift local communities. Today, we operate six factories, employing over 5,000 Malaysians, and we are the Halal Centre of Excellence for Nestlé globally. We are committed to providing halal, nutritious, and high-quality products with sustainability at the heart of our business practices - Made in Malaysia, by Malaysians, for all Malaysians.

As the world's largest food and beverage manufacturer, with our headquarters based in Switzerland, Nestlé operates in over 180 countries. With a workforce of over 270,000 dedicated employees, we are driven by our purpose to unlock the power of food, enhancing the quality of life for everyone, both today and for future generations. Our commitment to nutrition, health, and wellness guides our performance, ensuring we deliver on our promise of GOOD FOOD, GOOD LIFE.

To discover more about our century-long journey of nourishing Malaysians, please visit our website at https://www.nestle.com.my/ask-nestle/we-are-nestle.

For more information, please contact:

Shaheen Zaffar
Nestlé Malaysia 
Tel: (+603) 7965 6456
E-mail: [email protected]

Izzat Karim
INK PR Sdn Bhd
E-mail: [email protected]