Incheon, South Korea: Kosuke Hagino became the third Japanese competitors to win the prestigious Asian Games Samsung MVP award.
Held since the 1998 Bangkok Asiad, the accolade rewards the most outstanding performer at the end of each Games.
Athlete Koji Ito won the inaugural prize in 1998 and was followed by countryman and swimming sensation Kosuke Kitajima in Busan in 2002, with Hagino replicating their success here.
Hagino won four golds, one silver and two bronze medals and set a new Games record in the 200-metres individual medley.
“It is such a huge honour for me to merely compete against some of the biggest stars of Asia. Park Tae-hwan is such a great swimmer and a wonderful human too. As soon as I beat him, he came and congratulated me. This award has been unexpected and now that I have won it I promise to work even harder,” Hagino said.
According to official figures, nearly 1,600 accredited media participated in the electronic voting process. Although the media vote, the ultimate decision is taken by the Samsung MVP Award Steering Committee. The number of votes is not disclosed and neither are the other athletes who make the shortlist.
