Brunei's Norleyermah Hj Raya
took the SEA Games bronze
in the women's seni tunggal
(artistic single) at the Padepokan
Pencak Silat,Taman Mini
Indonesia Indah (TMII),in Jakarta
yesterday.Picture:Infofoto

Brunei's pencak silat team helped deliver three bronze medals at the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last night.

The team were the most successful of the eight sports which Brunei sent to the last Games in Laos in 2009 after returning with one gold and three bronze medals and they weren't way off the mark in this year's edition at the Indonesian capital.

Though they failed to progress past the first round in the three tanding (competition) events, the four seni (artistic) categories have seen the Sultanate make three trips to the podium at the Padepokan Pencak Silat, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII).

At TMII to support the national silat exponents was His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC).

The pencak silat team's haul means the country has won one silver (karatedo) and six bronze medals so far, with the remaining three bronze medals coming from karatedo and taekwondo.

Norleyermah Hj Raya who won silver in the women's seni tunggal (artistic single) at the 2007 edition in Korat, Thailand won bronze in the same event yesterday after finishing with 445 points.

Indonesia's Tuti Winarni took gold with 456 points, with Vietnam's Thi Thuy Nguyen finishing second on 447.

Norleyermah then combined with sister Norleyharyanti and Nurul Aimi Amalina Zainidi in the women's regu to finish with bronze behind Vietnam, with the hosts taking gold. Results were not available as of Press time.

The men's regu team of Abdul Malik Hj Ladi, Juffri Junaidi and Abd Rahman Hj Asli secured Brunei's third bronze medal of the day after recording 441 points.

Indonesia's Abdul Muqit Irsyat, Exa Purbianto and Zakki Imaduddin took gold with 462, followed by Singapore's M Iqbal Abd Rahman, Muhammad Danial and Muhammad Azri on 455.

Finishing with the same number of points as Malaysia's bronze medallist Tajul Zaman (448), titleholder Hj Md Khairul Bahrin Hj Duraman was just not good enough to defend his crown in the men's seni tunggal and he has no medal to show for this year's outing.

Indonesia's Eko Wahyudi won gold with 457 points, with Vietnam's Quang Trung Hoang second with 453.

Considering he was Brunei's only gold medallist in Laos, the country had high hopes on Hj Md Khairul Bahrin to at least finish on the podium this year.

In the tanding competition on Monday, Pg Khairul Bahri Pg Ali Umar lost 5-0 to Thailand's Katahat Raksapon in Class F (70-75kg), while on Sunday, Amirul Ahat succumbed by the same result to Thailand's Anothai Choopeng.

On a side note, team doctor Dr Danish Zaheer yesterday said Freddy Ashrul Choo is fully fit and has nothing to worry about.

Competing in the tanding Class I (85-90kg) event on Monday, national silat exponent Choo was knocked out after a kick in the face by his Indonesian opponent Pranoto a match which he would later win on total knock-out after the Bruneian failed to get up.

Rushed to the hospital half an hour later, Choo went through an x-ray and was found to be injury-free.

Courtesy from Brunei Times