MANILA, Philippines — Filipino surfer Roger Casogay was named as the “Fair Play Athlete” of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games during the closing ceremony on Wednesday, 11 December 2019, at the New Clark City.

At the closing ceremonies of SEA Games at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Tarlac, the Filipino surfer was given the rare accolade and recognition for rescuing an Indonesian athlete who almost drowned after the rope harness broke off his surfboard during the competition.

Indonesian President Indonesian President Joko Widodo himself, on Monday, thanked Filipino surfer Roger Casogay for saving the Indonesian competitor Arip Nurhidayat during the surfing competitions.

Casogay eventually won the following day in the men’s longboard event, and gave the Philippines one of its 149 total gold medals.

Meanwhile, Wen Quah Zheng of Singapore and Thi Ahn Vien Nguyen of Vietnam was named the best athletes of this year’s SEA Games.

Zheng and Nguyen dominated the pool after winning six golds and two silver medals each. (Lloyd Tagbago/IAMIGO/CNS)