The marathon runner received his prize in Hungarian capital Budapest and is the first Singaporean to be recognised with the award issued by the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP).

On June 7 last year the now 29-year-old was competing in the men's marathon at the 28th edition of the South East Asian Games in Singapore.

After just over five kilometres of the race, the lead pack of runners missed a U-turn in the dark which put Liew into the lead.

Instead of taking advantage of his competitors' error, Liew slowed down and allowed the pack to eat up the 50 metre lead he had inadvertently gained, even though he was well within his rights not to do so.

Liew eventually came eighth in a race won by his compatriot Soh Rui Yong Guillaume.

The SNOC recognised him for his sportsmanship with a special award at the Singapore Sports Awards in June, and then put him forward for the CIFP prize named after the founder of the Olympic Games.

"I am immensely humbled that the Singapore National Olympic Council has nominated me for the Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy,"" said Liew. 

"I was shocked to hear that I have received the award from the International Fair Play Committee."

Chirs Chan, the secretary general of SNOC, added: "We congratulate Ashley on receiving the prestigious Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy and for being the first Singaporean to be recognised by the Committee.

"This recognition from the International Fair Play Committee has demonstrated that Ashley’s honest act of sportsmanship has indeed struck a chord with not only Singaporeans but also with like-minded individuals internationally. 

"We hope values and acts of sportsmanship will continue to thrive in our community."

Among those in attendance in Budapest was Singapore's International Olympic Committee member Ng Ser Miang.