ABOVE & BELOW: The Brunei badminton team and teqball team heading to the SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. PHOTOS: JAMES KON & BRUNEI DARUSSALAM TEQBALL ASSOCIATION
“The results in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) will be from all the hard work and effort during training. The training in China has produced very good results. We started the morning training from 9am to 11.50am. We resumed at 3pm to 6pm. It was a daily routine for more than a month. The athletes really focussed on training.”
The wushu contingent coach Li Hui said this during the send off of the country’s wushu and badminton teams competing at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia.
Permanent Secretary (Youth) of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin was present at the send off.
In the wushu event, the country is represented by Mohammad Adi Salihin bin Roslan, Majdurano Joel bin Majallah Sain, Walid Lachkar, Hosea Wong Zheng Yu, Abel Lim Wee Yuen, Lim Yee Sean and Basma Lachkar.
The team is led by Manager Ang Ju Ming alongside coach Li Hui and Zhao Chunjie. Coach Li Hui commented, “As the competition gets closer, I feel more nervous due to the pressure. I hope that our team can get a better result than the last SEA Games.”
He recalled the athletes’ intensive training in China which has helped them to improve.
For the badminton event six athletes comprising – Ahmad Mahyuddin bin Haji Abas, Awangku Azri Safwan bin Pengiran Haji Jofri, Chang Huei Woo, Mohammad Shahirul bin Mohd Jenin, Siti Marinah binti Mohd Salleh and Nuraqilah binti Haji Shahroney will complete. The team is led by Coach Mohamad Zuno Kartono Ali.
Kartono Ali said, “Our training started in February and we had the opportunity to compete with athletes from two clubs in Miri during the training. Some of the selected athletes are experienced and have competed in the Asian School competition.” He added, “This time we are competing in the team event. We hope that our athletes will be able to compete well and qualify for the semifinal”.
Meanwhile, Brunei Darussalam sent three athletes to compete in the Teqball Demonstration Tournament at the 32nd SEA Games which began yesterday and continues until May 8.
Abdul Hadi bin Saidin and Mohammad Aliffuddin bin Jamaludin will participate in the Men’s Doubles category. Meanwhile, Muhammad Azri bin Abdul Harith will compete in the Men’s Singles category.
National head coach for teqball in Brunei Darussalam Haji Muhammad Isa bin Haji Abu Bakar believes that this tournament will provide valuable experience and bring honour to the country.
The head coach is assisted by Mohamad Salleh bin Haji Tuah. Haji Muhammad Isa said, “We are very proud of our athletes’ participation in this tournament. We believe that our athletes have prepared well and can give their best performances on the court.”
President of Brunei Darussalam Teqball Assocation Mohammad Shukri bin Haji Damit said, “The participation of Brunei Darussalam’s athletes in the tournament at the SEA Games is a remarkable achievement for our country. The Brunei Darussalam Teqball Association hopes that participation will inspire teqball enthusiasts in Brunei”.
