Silat exponents during the award presentation ceremony held at the Tutong Sports Complex yesterday. BT/ Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
Twenty-five silat exponents from the Tutong Department Youth and Sports Scheme were awarded for their yearly achievements at the Tutong Sports Complex yesterday.
Abdul Azim Abdul Kahar won the special male pesilat award while Qistina Athirah Zainal bagged the special female pesilat award.
"I am very happy to win the award as I did not expect to win anything today. I would like to thank my teacher Hassan Hj Tuah for introducing me to silat and teaching me until today," said Abdul Azim in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
"It is an honour for me to win this and I can only repay this by continuing to work even harder. Hopefully I will be able to represent Brunei in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore in 2015.
"But I know that it is not going to be easy as there are better silat practitioners out there who dream of representing the country, so I need to work very hard," added the 17 year-old.
Qistina Athirah said that she will take things one step at a time.
"There is no rush... I am still 15 and the opportunity to one day represent the country will come, but for now I am enjoying silat and will continue doing what I do best. training," said Qistina Athirah.
Qistina Athirah also won the excellent pesilat of the year award alongside Nur Azimatunnaemah Simat, while Abdul Azim and Afiq Aiman Hj Ainie won the best pesilat awards.
Nur Syafiqah Hj Md Seffari, Md Arrsyafaiq Hassan, Anisah Najihah Abdullah. Md Amirul Azmi Hj Ali Hamzah, Md Budriz Zaini, Dk Saadatul Huda Pg Zahiruddin, Mohd Hazwan Hj Hassan, Umar Ghazali Hj Jamalulail, Mohd Arrafie Hassan and Muhd Arsyad Hassan were given the best novice awards.
"First of all I would like to congratulate all the athletes who will be receiving their awards today and I hope that all of you will continue to work hard until you have reached the national or even international level in the future," said the head of the MCYS' Coaching and Development, Unit Kifli Hj Jaafar.
"I hope that this award will help push and motivate the athletes and the sports officers in the country to work extra hard, be proactive and committed in developing the sport in the country as we are gearing towards the 30th SEA Games that we will be hosting in 2019."
Kifli then stressed that it is also important for all sports bodies in the country to assess, identify and review the young talents in the country at all levels as it will help gauge the standard of the athletes while at the same time carry out the programmes to improve their development.
