National wushu exponent Faustina Woo Wai Sii received $3,500 for her SEA Games' medal-winning performance. Pictures: BT/ Yusri Adanan

(Top) Minister of Culture,Youth
and Sports Yang Berhormat
Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila
Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair
Hj Abdullah (L) presents the reward
to national karate-do exponent
Mohammad Fadilah Hj Sanif
(pic, above) and national wushu
exponent Faustina Woo Wai Sii
(Above) in Berakas yesterday.
Pictures: BT/ Yusri Adanan

Karate-do and wushu exponents dominate sports incentive scheme

The usual suspects topped the money-list at yesterday's Sports Excellence Reward Scheme awarding ceremony.

eventeen athletes, five coaches, seven assistant coaches and five national sports associations received a total of $48,700 as reward for their successful campaign at last year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia, where the country returned with four silver and seven bronze medals but ended bottom of the 11-nation pile after failing to pick up a gold medal.

Seasoned national karate-do exponent Mohammad Fadilah Hj Sanif was the biggest winner after collecting $4,000 yesterday $3,000 for his silver medal in the men's kumite below 67kg and $1,000 for bronze in the men's team kumite.

National wushu exponent Faustina Woo Wai Sii received $3,500 for winning bronze in nanquan (southern fist) ($2,000) and silver in duilian (duo sparring with broadsword and spear) ($1,500) where she partnered Lee YingShi.

Also on the list of high achievers were Norleyermah Hj Raya (pencak silat), Mohd Jamil Hj Abdul Hamid (karate-do) and Muhammad Ali-Rashid Alipah and Muhamad Shamsul Makmun (shorinji kempo) taking home $3,000 each.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah presented the cheques yesterday.

Though Mohammad Fadilah was all smiles yesterday, he admitted his 8-0 loss to Indonesia's Jintar Simanjuntak still weighed on his mind

"I'm happy and sad at the same time sad because I wasn't able to win gold," said the 33-year-old athlete at the Dewan DiGadong of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports building in Berakas.

"But, thank God, I have been able to maintain my good form over all these years," said Mohammad Fadilah, who made his debut for the country at the 1999 SEA Games which Brunei hosted.

Mohammad Fadilah's largest windfall came in 2007 when he racked up $5,000 for his bronze medal in the Asian Karate Federation (AFK) Championships in Negri Sembilan, Malaysia.

espite only introduced in Brunei last year, shorinji kempo emerged as the biggest winners in Indonesia last November after collecting two silver medals, with karate-do coming in second with one silver and two bronze medals.

In both sports, each of the team's four athletes returned with medals.

Shorinji kempo and karate-do were handed $13,500 yesterday, with pencak silat picking up $11,200, wushu $7,500 and taekwondo $3,000 a sum which includes that awarded to the coaches and national sports associations.

Agreeing that money helps motivate athletes during training, Woo felt that a larger sum would ensure even more commitment and hard work.

"People would train harder if more money is offered," opined Woo.

"If $50,000 was offered for a gold medal ... everyone would train hard (and) more people would get interested in the sport. This applies to every sport," added the multi-titled athlete.

Courtesy from Brunei Times