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Asia Skateboarding Awards: prospects eye Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games spots as Filipino star Margielyn Didal wins big

  • Japan’s Sanbongi and the Philippines’ Didal win men’s and women’s skater of the year after Covid-19-impacted campaigns
  • ‘The talent in skateboarding across Asia will progress and evolve’ says Asian Skateboarding Championship director Reed

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Filipino professional street skateboarder Margielyn Didal at Mei Foo Skatepark, Lai Chi Kok in January 2020. Photo: SCMP / Jonathan Wong

The continent’s best and most promising skateboarders were highlighted at the Asia Skateboarding Awards 2020 on Wednesday.

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Shin Sanbongi, a seasoned 28-year-old from Japan, won the men’s skater of the year, while 2018 Asian Games gold medallist, 21-year-old Margielyn Didal from the Philippines, was named the inaugural female skater of the year.

Launched in December 2020 to support the tight-knit community amid the Covid-19 pandemic, skaters from various regions were invited to submit skateboarding-related content for a “lockdown challenge” as judges sifted through the 250 nominations. The judging panel criteria included difficulty, execution, creativity, use of spots and style per the organisers Millenial Events.

Notable entries include Japan’s Yuto Horigame and Aori Nishimura, UAE’s Karim Nassar, Nepal’s Samir Wilson and the Maldives’ Ali Shaahil. Skaters from Afghanistan, Iran and Palestine also entered for the first time.

Gold medallist Margielyn Didal celebrates with silver medallist Japan’s Kaya Isa and bronze medallist Bunga Nyimas at the women’s skateboard street event awards ceremony at the 2018 Asian Games. Photo: AFP
Gold medallist Margielyn Didal celebrates with silver medallist Japan’s Kaya Isa and bronze medallist Bunga Nyimas at the women’s skateboard street event awards ceremony at the 2018 Asian Games. Photo: AFP
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The Awards included several other categories across both men’s and women’s, including “Trick of the Year”, “Rookie of the Year”, “Creative Sole”, “Fastest Feet in the East”, “Hidden Gem”, “Styles for Miles” and “Vertical Ripper” awards for entrants young and old.

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