Knowles landed the prestigious Sandy Blythe Medal after leading the men's team to victory at the Asia Oceania Championships, top scoring in the final with 23 points to secure London 2012 Paralympic qualification for his team.

The 28-year-old, from New South Wales, also enjoyed a 21-point quarter against Japan in the same tournament – one of the highest single-quarter tallies in international basketball history.

He was also a key member of a young Australian line-up that competed at the International Tournament of Champions.


Knowles (pictured centre) – an above-the-knee amputee as a result of cancer – is expected to be one of Australia's key players at London 2012 as the reigning Paralympic and world champions look to retain their crown in the English capital.

Crispin picked up the Sue Hobbs Medal after a dominant 2011 in which the women's team grabbed gold at the Asia Oceania Championships, securing qualification for the London 2012 Paralympic Games into the bargain.

The 23-year-old, from Queensland, also represented the Asia Oceania Championships All-Star Five side, leading the way with a superb 18 point-haul in the gold-medal tie against China.

Crispin – born missing a limb – was part of the Australian women's team that bagged bronze at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and is sure to be at the forefront of her nation's attempt to claim gold in London.

The Awards dinner was held at the glamorous Palladium at Crown in Melbourne.

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