His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah yesterday told The Brunei Times he was glad to see the country win a gold medal at the SEA Games.
Wushu exponents Faustina Woo Wai Sii and Lee Ying Shi earned a trip to the top of the podium in their favourite women's duilian (duo sparring with broadsword and spear) event after beating Singapore by 0.01 point on Tuesday - the victory all the more sweeter since Singapore beat them for gold by the same margin in the same event the previous two SEA Games in Laos (2009) and Indonesia (2011).
"I'm really happy for them because they missed out on gold by 0.01 the last two times," said HRH, the president of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC).
"I'm also glad that we have won a gold medal since we didn't manage that in Indonesia.
"The football team's performance has improved from the first game (a 7-0 loss to Vietnam) and I hope they can continue to improve in their next two games (against Singapore tomorrow and Laos on Tuesday)," said the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam president when asked what he thought about Brunei's 2-0 loss to Malaysia on Tuesday night.
HRH was talking to The Brunei Times after dining at the Athletes Village, the second day in a row he has done so after earlier visiting the national athletes at their base for the Games.
The Athletes Village is divided into clusters of bungalows, with Indonesia and Brunei sharing the same cluster of 10 bungalows and the dining hall in the centre of the surrounding buildings.
"It's nice that we are sharing the same cluster as Indonesia and maybe the athletes will socialise with one another after their meals," he said when asked to comment on the living arrangements.
"Overall, I'm very impressed with the facilities, transport and how our officials have been taken care of here in Myanmar - they (organisers) really are doing it (SEA Games) well," he added.
HRH was also in Naypyidaw for the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) Council meeting on Tuesday, where Malaysia gave a confirmation letter stating they will host the 2017 SEA Games.
According to the SEA Games Federation Charter, countries have to confirm their commitment to organising the regional meet four years prior.
Brunei have agreed, in principle, to host the 2019 SEA Games.
Brunei expressed its interest to host the 2019 Games, which will be the 30th edition, during a SEAGF council meeting last year.
They are expected to confirm whether they will serve as hosts or not during the SEAGF Council meet at the next SEA Games in Singapore in 2015.
Held every two years in a rotational basis, Vietnam are set to host the 2021 Games while Cambodia have given their letter of confirmation to host the 2023 Games - both of which was revealed during Tuesday's SEAGF Council meeting.
Also present at the Athletes Village yesterday was Brunei's Ambassador to Myanmar Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Colonel (R) Dato Paduka Hj Abdu'r Rahmani Dato Paduka Hj Basir, as well as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Haji Hazair Hj Abdullah.
The ministry's permanent secretary Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar and officials from both the Brunei embassy and ministry rounded off the members of yesteryday's visiting delegation.
