His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council meets with coaches and representatives of sporting associations. PHOTO: JAMES KON
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad with Permanent Secretary (Sports) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud at the press conference. PHOTO: JAMES KON
Sixty-five athletes will be competing under the nation’s flag in 12 sporting events during the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA Games), which will be held from May 5 to 17.
Details of the country’s participation emerged during a press conference yesterday, including the first-time participation in Weightlifting, Obstacle Race and Badminton.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) attended the press conference. Also present were Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad as well as officials from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and BDNOC.
According to Permanent Secretary (Sports) at the MCYS Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Brunei will be represented in 12 sporting events. They are aquatic swimming (four male athletes will participate); athletics (two males); badminton (four males, two females); billards and snooker (two males); e-Sports (five males); fencing (three males, one female); karate-do (nine males, three females); obstacle race (five males); pencak silat (seven males, three females); petanque (five males, one female); weightlifting; (one male, one female) and wushu (five males, two females).
The Chef De Mission will be Acting Director for Youth and Sports Development Zainab binti Haji Morshidi. The contingent will number 100 people after the inclusion of support staff.
Meanwhile, the Brunei Darussalam Amateur Swimming Association has withdrawn two athletes from the Team Relay 100-metre-freestyle event. Both swimmers have personal commitments and are not available to compete.
A new nomination to complete the team was submitted and a time trial for the team is set on April 14 to assess whether the team can meet the criteria to compete in the SEA Games.
The national record for Team Relay is at 3:41.00.
NEW SPORTS
Brunei will compete in the mixed team event category approved by Badminton Asia.
According to the permanent secretary, the event is only open to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste.
With none of the major badminton nations such as Indonesia in the group, the country has a chance of competing on an even playing field, he said. An Indonesian coach has also been brought in to help with the training and preparation.
The permanent secretary said athletes in the obstacle race are undergoing intensive training, including a session in Manila from April 16 to 23. He noted that the weightlifters are also undergoing intensive training, conducted by the sport’s association.
Wushu, fencing, billiard and snooker and obstacle race athletes are currently training overseas, while the athletes in the remaining sports are completing preparations in the country.
NO FOOTBALL TEAM
The national football team will not be competing in the 32nd SEA Games after it has failed to meet criteria set by the secretariat for national assessment and selection committee.
THE NATION’S HOPES
“Brunei Darussalam hopes to improve from the previous result (from the SEA Games in Vietnam) of one gold, one silver and one bronze,” said the permanent secretary. “Therefore athletes who have the potential to win medals are in intensive training – for example, wushu atheletes are currently training in China.
“By having systematic and intensive preparation as well as training, it is hoped that athletes will be in a better position to win medals.
“In addition, we also hope that athletes can smash our national records during the competition.
“Systematic preparations and training, confidence and the spirit to win will have an impact on the end result, so there is potential for Brunei to surpass the medal tally. It is the hope of all the people in Brunei.”
The team will leave ahead of the games’ schedule to familiarise themselves with the venue. The Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee allowed athletes to be present two days before the competition.
Brunei’s contingent will leave for Cambodia in groups starting on April 27, followed by groups in April 30, May 2 and the largest on May 3.
