‍‍CCTV, the predominant state television broadcaster in China, has recently launched its Sports Personality of the Year. The award recognises the sportperson and the team that have made the most substantial contribution to Chinese sport in 2015.

The winner of the AFC Champions League Guangzhou Evergrande FC, in dispute with Dongfeng Nissan over its shirt sponsorship, has failed to be nominated as the best team. 

Jiang Heping, the executive director of CCTV Sports, believes that the omission of Evergrande will have a negative impact on the sports community. At the first-round polling, the overwhelming majority of the 19 juries vetoed the club’s nomination.

The Chinese swimming team lead the nominees for the best team. The other two nominated are the men's basketball and women's volleyball teams.

Gong Luming, who led the men's basketball team to win the 2015 Asian Championship title is nominated for the best coach, along with Lang Ping, the women's volleyball legend and Luis Felipe Scolari, the head coach of Guangzhou Evergrande FC. ‍‍

Source: Tencent

Proofread by John Devlin