Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, the Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; handing over the national flag to Colonel Zahrin bin Haji Zunaidi as the Chef de Mission of Brunei contingent
The Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport; in a group photo with the officials and the Brunei contingent
Kamarul Ariffin bin Haji Arpan, President of Brunei Darussalam Cue Sports Association; Ahmad Taufiq bin Murni; and Billiard and Snooker Coach Lim Tat Hwe. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council yesterday urged the athlete competing in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 to not to take lightly the competition and give the best performance against opponents as well as to maintain high discipline and commitment as a national athlete.
The sabda of His Royal Highness was read out by Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, the Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, at the national flag handing over for the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 takeing place at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
In the sabda, His Royal Highness believed, “We can assess the quality and level of our ability as a national athlete and improve our abilities to achieve success.”
In addition with the high commitment and discipline, His Royal Highness highlighted, “Athletes must possesses attributes such as focus, competitive and strong mentality during the competition.”
His Royal Highness also reminded the athlete to always comply to the Anti-Doping Act and regulation enforced by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and uphold the good name of Brunei Darussalam.
The lone representative for Brunei Darussalam the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 is national billiard athlete Ahmad Taufiq bin Murni in the 9-ball event. Led by Colonel Zahrin bin Haji Zunaidi as the Chef De Mission, the contingent also comprised Billiard and Snooker Coach Lim Tat Hwe and Secretariat officer Nursulhi binti Haji Tuah.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain in his opening remarks said, “Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games is to promote sport and health as main value in life. Therefore, the participation of the country to the competition is in line with the purpose of the national sport of Brunei which stressed the important for the sport to support development for individual, community and country.”
In Individual level, he said, “The active participation in sport can contribute to the shaping of positive characters, self-awareness and high competitiveness. At the community level, sport can raise the level of community’s health, encourage growth and progress in economy of the country through participation and contribution among youths and sports.
“Brunei Darussalam has taken advantage of sport as a platform to strengthen national integration. This is the main aim of the national sports policy formulation which is to create a nation of sport culture; which will lead the country to prosperity.”
Also present at the ceremony were Haji Noor Jusmin bin Haji Abdul Samad, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports with officials from the ministry and of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council.
