The national karate team failed to finish on the podium after losing both their matches in the men's team kumite event at the 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games yesterday.
They started out with a 3-1 loss at the hands of Thailand in the quarter-finals at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium A
Muhammad Hamizan Sanif fell 4-1 before Mairul Mohammad evened things up with a 3-2 victory.
Thailand put the Sultanate away with consecutive knockout wins over Muhammad Fida'iy Sanif and Mainuddin Mohammad.
Brunei were given a chance at bronze after their opponents made it through to the final.
However, Vietnam proved too strong for the Sultanate as they were swept aside 3-0 in the repechage.
Hamizan was first in action and lost 4-0 before Fida'iy fell via knockout with a scoreline of 9-1.
Brunei's hope of any medal from the event was put to rest after Mairul lost 6-1 to his Vietnamese opponent.
The result means that they under-performed from the previous edition in Indonesia two years ago where they bagged one silver and two bronze medals.
National karate coach Okhida Simangasing was disappointed not to improve from the previous outing but believes that they can only get better.
"I feel disappointed but the athletes have put in their best effort. Our opponents were just stronger and what we lacked against them was experience," said Okhida in an interview after the match.
"We are a young team and we will continue to work to get better. I feel that we are at the same standard but we just haven't been as aggressive in the tournament," he added.
"We have got the techniques but we are short of sparring outside of the country compared to others," continued the Indonesian.
Team manager, Hj Sayed Mohammad Hj Sayed Othman, shared the same sentiments as the national coach and felt that the national karatekas still have a long road ahead of them.
"We will analyse our weaknesses from this competition whether it is our speed or techniques. We will have to improve on our mental toughness," said Hj Sayed Mohammad.
"They are still young and I know that they have the ability to do better in the future," he added.
The eight-athlete karate team end their outing at the biennial Games with one silver and one bronze medals.
Fida'iy delivered on the silver medal after losing 8-6 to Ramon Antonino Franco of the Philippines in the men's under 55kg kumite on Saturday.
The bronze medal was courtesy of Mairul after edging Myanmar's San Toe in the repechage of the men's under 60kg kumite.
The four-minute matchup ended deadlocked at 3-3 before Mairul was declared the winner.
