Mochamad Nasri (R), the national
junior silat coach, keeping an
eye on the junior exponents in
training recently. The silat team
left for Melaka yesterday.
Picture: BT

The national karate, silat and wushu teams left for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) yesterday, the first of three batches to depart to Melaka for the 13th edition of the biennial tournament.

Sixty-seven athletes from 13 sports will be representing Brunei during the 10-day competition which starts on Thursday.

The nation is sending a contingent of 104, with the athletes joined by 16 coaches, five managers, 14 officials and two technical officers.

The aquatics, badminton, bowling, cycling, fencing and tennis squads are set to leave at 10am today. The contingent's chef de mission Hj Rosmadee Hj Md Daud who was at the Brunei International Airport to send the athletes off yesterday will also be on the flight, as with the rest of the technical staff and officials.

Athletics, petanque, sepak takraw and squash will complete the list when they leave at 7pm tomorrow.

Competing as an invitational team, Brunei first took part in the 1996 edition of the Sukma in Pahang. This year marks the seventh time that Brunei is sending a contingent to the Under-23 tournament which is seen as a stepping stone toward bigger tournaments.

The Hang Jebat Stadium will play host to both the opening and closing ceremonies, with other venues hosting various events throughout the tournament which will see 9,000 athletes from 15 States in action.

Brunei's best finish was in 2004 when the national contingent came home with one gold, five silver and five bronze medals from Negri Sembilan.

Courtesy from Brunei Times