Shih Che expressed gratitude for the outstanding performances of athletes, coaches, and support team

On December 20, 2024, the Sports Administration (SA) held the "2024 Sports Elite Awards Ceremony." The six major award finalists were selected through an initial review meeting, and the winners determined through a final selection meeting. The Best Female Athlete Award went to boxer Lin Yu-Ting, with the Best Male Athlete Award presented to gymnast Tang Chia-Hung. Best Coach Award was given to Coach Tseng Tzu-Chiang, Best Sports Team Award was won by the badminton men's doubles gold medalists at the Paris Olympics, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, and the Best Sportsmanship Award given to Cheng Ming-Chih. The Best Rookie Athlete Award was won by Kao Cheng-Jui. The ceremony began with Minister Without Portfolio, Shih Che, presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Lee Wu-Nan and the Special Award to breakdancer Sun Chen. Deputy Minister of Education Chang Liao Wan-Chien delivered a speech, encouraging and congratulating all the winners, and once again thanking all athletes and coaches for their efforts in bringing Taiwan great honor in competition and making historic achievements on the international stage.

The SA also stated that 126 candidates were considered for the 2024 Sports Elite Awards. The recommended athletes, whose performances in domestic and international competitions from October 17, 2023, to September 30, 2024, were all exceptional. The winners of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" and "Special Award" winners were selected at a special review meeting held on October 28. The finalists for the six award categories — "Best Male Athlete Award," "Best Female Athlete Award," "Best Coach Award," "Best Sports Team Award," "Best Rookie Athlete Award," and "Best Sportsmanship Award" — were chosen through an initial review meeting held on October 24.

This year, the nominees for Best Male Athlete included shooting star Lee Meng-Yuan, nicknamed Taiwan’s “King of Cats” Tang Chia-Hung, table tennis rising star Kao Cheng-Jui, Paralympian Cheng Ming-Chih, and taekwondo talent Xiao Xiang-Wen. Ultimately, Tang Chia-Hung was winner of the Best Male Athlete Award. The nominees for the Best Female Athlete Award included Paralympian Tian Shiau-Wen, boxer Wu Shih-Yi, table tennis player Lin Tzu-Yu, “Taiwan's daughter" boxer Lin Yu-Ting, and cancer survivor Chen Nien-Chin. Each of them had outstanding performances, however, after careful deliberation, Lin Yu-Ting won the award.

The Best Coach Award nominees included coaches who guided athletes to success in various disciplines: boxers Wu Shi-Yi and Chen Nien-Chin's coach Ko Wen-Ming, Taiwan’s “King of Cats” gymnast Tang Chia-Hung's coach Weng Shih-Hang, Chen Hung-Lin, coach of badminton men's doubles  double Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, Tseng Tzu-Chiang, the coach behind Lin Yu-Ting's success, and shooting coach Hsieh Chih-Pei. Each coach inspired and guided their athletes to compete without worry. Coach Tseng Tzu-Chiang ultimately won the Best Coach Award. Regardless of the final winners, all the coaches are the greatest support for athletes, sharing in their glory. The nominees for the Best Rookie Athlete Award included the strong female track and field athlete Chiang Ching-Yuan, archery rising star Fong You-Jhu, table tennis sensation Kao Cheng-Jui, the youngest national champion in men's singles table tennis Kuo Guan-Hong, and table tennis youngster Chen Po-Yen. The competition for this award was close, but Kao Cheng-Jui emerged as the winner.

In the Best Sportsmanship Award category, the nominees included Lin Yu-Ting, who smashed gender stereotypes through her ability; Tang Chia-Hung, who battled injuries and came back with indomitable spirit to win medals; Chen Nien-Chin, who triumphed over cancer; and Cheng Ming-Chih, whose determination brought progress and a refusal to ever set limits. Each nominee's journey was an inspiring story. Cheng Ming-Chih won the award for the fighting spirit that resonated deeply with the judges. For the Best Sports Team Award, the nominees included the women's table tennis doubles team (Tian Shiau-Wen, Lin Tzu-Yu), the badminton men's doubles team (Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin) that won gold at two successive Olympics, and the baseball U18 team (which won a gold medal at the 2024 BFA XIII U-18 Asian Baseball Championship). Each team had outstanding performances; ultimately, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, the Paris Olympic gold medalists, won the award.

In addition to the awardees, this year's ceremony featured many gold medal-winning presenters, including taekwondo athletes Chen Shih-Hsin, who won the Best Female Athlete Award in 2004, and Chu Mu-Yen, winner of the Best Male Athlete Award in 2004, both winners of gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, who returned to present awards and showcase their past glory. Also present were Chen Yi-An, out of the public eye for a long while, who won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in taekwondo when it was a demonstration sport, who came back to present an award, passing on the energy of gold medals to the winners.

Taiwan's baseball coach and slugger Chen Chin-Feng, who was honored with a Special Award in 2016 which he said was the most powerful affirmation of his baseball career, also attended to present an award. Yang Ching-Lung, Secretary-General of the Chinese Professional Baseball League and a baseball hero from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, continues his contributions to domestic baseball and was also present at the ceremony, bringing the energy of “Team Taiwan” to the event. Furthermore, Song Yu-Chi, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics and is currently the Secretary-General of the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee, also attended as an award presenter. This year's awards saw the highest number of nominees from table tennis, and Chiang Hung-Chieh, 2009 Best Male Athlete, presented an award, hoping that more athletes will achieve international success. Hsie Yuan-Kai, who won the Best Rookie Athlete Award last year, also returned to cheer on the new generation of athletes.

Each year, the finalists for the Sports Elite Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement and visibility. Athletes and teams will continue to accumulate energy, striving to excel on the international stage and win further glory for Taiwan. As preparations for the establishment of the Ministry of Sports continue, the aim is to bring fresh thinking and values, continuously injecting resources and promoting policies. Let’s looks forward to seeing all athletes and coaches pursue excellence in their respective sports.