HIS Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BNOC), called on athletes to keep their competitive spirits when they compete in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos next month.
HRH Prince Sufri emphasised the importance of focus, mental preparation and high competitive spirit for the successful campaign of the 29 athletes attending the biennial meet slated Dec 9-18 in Vientiane City.
"The athletes shouldn't get angry or emotional during competition as it would definitely make them lose focus and cause them to make mistakes," said HRH Prince Sufri.
" The athletes will have to keep emotions aside to keep their focus in order for victory.
"This is a good time to bring glory to the country, create a name (for yourself) and open opportunities in the future," added HRH Prince Sufri, who handed over the Brunei flag to the chef de mission of the national contingent, Hj Muhd Zamri Dato Paduka Hj Hamdani, at the VIP room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Brunei is sending 29 athletes to Laos. They wull compete in cue sports, karatedo, pencak silat, athletics, sepak takraw, taekwando and wushu.
His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, will team up with Teo Chee Soon in the nine-ball doubles event.
National cue sports coach, Lim Tat Hwe, who has been coaching Teo for the past eight years, believes that they have a good chance of reaching the finals if they make it past the first round.
Eight athletes are competing in karatedo, all in the kumite event.
Leading the team are SEA Games medalists Masdiana Hj Tengah and Mohammad Fadillah hj Sanif.
Masdiana won the bronze medal in the women's under 48kg division last year in Korat, Thailand while Mohammad Fadillah was a silver medalist in the men's team under 65kg category of the 2003 edition in Vietnam.
Seasoned exponent Hj Eddie Jofriani Hj Johari also remains in the squad and will compete in the men's under 55kg division while Mohd Fadilah Sanif has moved up a weight class and will be joining the men's under 67kg.
Mohammad Fazil Rewandie Mohd Faizal, who competed in the men's under 75kg in Thailand, is entered in the men's under 84kg division.
The other members of the karatedo team are Mohd Fadilah's younger brother Mohd Fida'iy (men's 56-60kg), Mainudin Hj Mohamad (men's under 75kg), Mohd Fazil Rewandie Mohd Faizal (men's under 84kg), Mohd Jamil Hj Abd Hamid (men's above 84kg) and Dk Nurleha Pg Abd Rahman (women's below 55kg).
Nine athletes will compete in pencak silat, which is the sport most likely to deliver medals because of brilliant showings in international tournaments this year.
The members of the pencak silat team are Amirul Ahat (Class A, 45-50kg), Mohd Amali Hj Malek (Class B, 50-55kg), Khuzaiman Ahmad (Class D, 60-65kg), Mohd Kifli Hamzah (Class E, 65-70kg), Pg Khairul Bahri Pg Ali Umar (Class F, 70-75kg), Freddy Ashrul Choo (Class G, 75-80kg), Siti Zuliza Omar (Class B, 50-55kg), Pg Khairul Bahri Pg Ali Umar (men's seni tunggal) and Norleyermah Hj Raya (women's semi tunggal).
Norleyermah Hj Raya is eyeing a repeat of her silver medal finish in the 2007 SEA Games.
Indonesian coach Suhartono expressed confidence on his athletes saying "they have the right attitude which is very important to succeed."
"I admire the skills of the Brunei athletes, they have the potentials," added Suharto, who has handled the national teams of Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines.
Suhartono steered the Thailand team four gold, one silver and five bronze medals during the 2007 SEA Games in Korat,
Md Yazid Yatimi Yusof is the country's lone representative in athletics. He will compete in the discus throw and shot put events. He is hoping to duplicate his bronze medal achievement in the discus throw.
National athletics coach Dario de Rosas is expecting Md Yazid to produce a better finish at the Games.
"He's been training hard and he is determined to win in Laos," said De Rosas, who is one of the Philippines' best athletes.
The national sepak takraw coach, Ittiphol Chomchaissak, is aiming for the bronze in the doubles event having heard that the Thai national team might not compete in the event.
Ismail Ang, Mohd Shukri Hainen and Bur Alimin Sunggoh are the names listed for the team.
Only one athlete will be competing in taekwando, Mohd Fathullah Mohd Taib, who is coached by Kim Jung-jun.
The national wushu coach, Li Hui, is setting a high standard by targetting a gold medal despite making their first appearance at the Games.
The duo of Faustina Woo Wai Sii and Lee Ying Shi, who won the bronze at the 3rd Asian Indoor Games, will be competing in the double sword and spear (Dui Lian) event.
Twins Isa and Ismi Bismi will participate in the double sword and spear (Dui Lian) event, Southern Fist (Nanquan), Southern Staff (Nangun) and Southern cudgel (Nandao) events.
Harris Adli Perancis has been entered in the Southern Fist (Nanquan), Southern Staff (Nangun) and Southern Cudgel (Nandao) events.
Brunei won one gold, one silver and four bronze medals during the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand. Their best finish was in 1999, where the Sultanate pocketed four golds, 12 silvers and 31 bronze medals when it hosted the tournament for the first time.
Courtesy from Brunei Times
