Lin, Li win CCTV Sports awards

China's badminton superstar Lin Dan was crowned best male athlete, while history-making tennis great Li Na won the women's top award at the -China Central Television (CCTV) Sports Personality of the Year 2013 ceremony in Beijing on Saturday.

Lin, also known as Super Dan, converted a wild-card entry into a World Championship title in South China's Guangzhou in August 2013 after -taking a gap year to enjoy -family life after the London Olympic Games. He then cemented his status after he claimed his third straight title at the Chinese -National Games in September.

He brought a bit of an upset to the men's award by edging opponents including Zheng Zhi, who won the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year award by skippering Guangzhou Evergrande to achieve a national and intracontinental double.

But Zheng was not left out in the cold, as his team was awarded the best team of the year award.

"The award is an affirmation of what we have done in the last year, and it is great encouragement for a Chinese footballer to bring happiness to the fans," the 33-year-old Zheng said.

Evergrande's head coach Marcello Lippi was named the best coach of the year, and it was the first time the award was given to a foreigner, thanks to his significant contributions to the long-beleaguered status of Chinese soccer.

Li, who stepped into the Australian Open final and WTA Tour Championships final in 2013, finished last year as world No.3 in the WTA rankings, which was the highest spot reached by an Asian player.

But she was not the only female tennis player to collect an accolade at the ceremony, as compatriots Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-wei, who claimed the Wimbledon title and WTA Tour Championships title in doubles, won the best combination award.

Long jumper Li Jinzhe transcended 17-year-old figure -skater Yan Han, 19-year-old hitter Zhu Ting and the best domestic striker Wu Lei, 22, to reach the best rookie award.

"I was a bit of surprised to get the award, as I am 24," Li Jinzhe said.

"8.34 meters is for the past, I've aimed to jump longer in the future," said the athlete, who won the IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai with a 8.34-meter jump in May 2013. Later he replicated his form at the National Games with the same result.

The non-Olympic athlete award went to Ding Junhui, who made into the top three of the world snooker rankings last season.

Guo Chuan, the first Chinese to achieve a solo nonstop sailing trip around the world with a 40-foot (12.192 meters) vessel in 138 days - which was recorded by the world sailing governing body - was given the special contribution award.

"I think being scientific and free is the crucial part of achieving such big things ... People at my age [49] can reach this point, so I just hope what I have done can make more people love their lives and love sports, especially youths," Guo told a news conference after accepting the award.

One-legged cycler Wang Yonghai won the award for the disabled. He called on citizens to drive less but ride more in daily life, to alleviate the pressure of air pollution.