LONDON (AP) — Ipinagkaloob kay tennis champion Andy Murray ang titulong ‘knighthood’ sa New Year’s honor list ni Queen Elizabeth II nitong Biyernes.
Ibinigay ang pagkilala kay Murray matapos makamit ang ikalawang Wimbledon title at maging Olympic champion tungo sa pagiging World No.1.
Nauna nang ipinagkaloob sa 29-anyos na si Murray ang titulong Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) noong 2012 nang tanghaling Olympic champion sa London Games.
Kasama ni Murray na binigyan ng parangal si Mo Farah, kampeon sa 5,000 at 10,000 meter title, sa Rio de Janeiro Olympics noong Agosto, para tanghaling kauna-unahang British track and field athlete na nagwagi ng apat na Olympic gold medal.
“I’m so happy to be awarded this incredible honor from the country that has been my home since I moved here at the age of eight,” pahayag ni Farah.
“Looking back at the boy who arrived here from Somalia, not speaking any English, I could never have imagined where I would be today — it’s a dream come true.
“I’m so proud to have had the opportunity to race for my country and win gold medals for the British people, who have been my biggest supporters throughout my career.”
Kasama rin si Lee Pearson, nagwagi ng kanyang ika-11 gintong medalya sa Paralympic equestrian sa Rio. Tangan na niya ang MBE, OBE at CBE bilang pagkilala sa kanyang natatanging gawa sa equestrianism at sa kapwa niya disabled.
Ibinigay naman ang tiulong ‘Damehood’ kina heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill at rower Katherine Grainger, kapwa nagretiro matapos ang Rio Olympics.
Bilang Knights, kailangan itawag sa kanila ang “Sir” o “Dame.”