Nurul Aimi Amalina Zainidi (L) and Khuzaiman Ahmad posing with the gold medals they
won at the 2nd Southeast Asian Silat Championship 2010 in Vietnam. Nurul Aimi won
the women's seni tunggal event while Khuzaiman captured the men's class E (65-70kg)
category. Brunei returned from the August 5-10 tournament in Thanh Hoa last night with
two gold, one silver and six bronze medals. Picture: BT/Jason Thomas

The national silat team after their
return from the 2nd Southeast
Asian Silat Championship 2010 in
Vietnam at the Brunei International
Airport last night. Brunei returned
from the Aug 5-10 tournament in
Thanh Hoa with two gold, one silver
and six bronze medals.Picture:
BT/Jason Thomas

The national silat team returned from the 2nd Southeast Asian Silat Championship 2010 in Vietnam with two gold, one silver and six bronze medals last night.

The result not only cements their reputation as the premier national team in the country but was also the first time that any Bruneian has beaten a Vietnamese in an international tanding (match sparring) event.

Khuzaiman Ahmad beat a competitor from the host nation in the semi-final of the men's Class E (65-70kg) event at the Aug 5-10 tournament in the central province of Thanh Hoa, going on to win gold after beating a competitor from Malaysia.

Nurul Aimi Amalina Zainidi won the country's other gold medal in the women's tunggal (single) event.

According to the Voice of Vietnam website, hosts Vietnam won the championship with 14 gold, five silver and three bronze medals while Malaysia came in second with six gold, nine silver and five bronze medals.

An improvement from their one gold, three bronze and six bronze medals they won in the 2008 edition in Ho Chi Minh City, national silat coach Suhartono was a happy man when met at the Brunei International Airport late last night.

"We have shown that Brunei can do well in international events," he beamed.

"I am really satisfied with the team's performance since our target when we left was only to gain exposure and prepare for next year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia," he said

"The team's performance is improving in terms of their technique, experience and maturity, and that was evident when we beat Vietnam for the first time."

Except for two exponents Md Eddy Ratno Hj Abu Bakar in the men's tunggal and men's ganda (double), where he combined with 2009 SEA Games gold medalist Hj Md Khairul Bahrin Hj Duraman all 13 of the Sultanate's entries finished on the podium.

Newcomer Farina Afina PDP Hj Abd Jalil made it a debut to remember when she won the country's sole silver medal in the women's tanding Class F (70-75kg) event.

Amirul Ahad (men's Class B 50-55kg), Mohd Amali Hj Abd Malik (men's Class C 55-60kg), Mohd Izzat Zaini (men's class D 60-65kg), Mohd Amin Ali (men's Class F 70-75kg) and Siti Zuliza Omar (women's Class C 55-60kg) won bronze.

Abd Malik Hj Ladi, Abd Rahman Hj Asli and Juffri Hj Junaidi won the country's sixth bronze medal in the seni regu (artistic triple) category.

Courtesy from Brunei Times