Brunei karate exponent Mainudin Hj Mohamad (R) is being treated after getting injured during his match at the Guangzhou Asian Games yesterday. Picture: Infofoto

Brunei bowed out of the Guangzhou Asian Games yesterday without a medal to its name.

The last of the Sultanate's eight athletes to see action at the 16th edition of the Games in China, Mainudin Hj Mohamad and Mohammad Jamil Hj Abd Hamid provided no indication they would be able to finally get the country on the podium on the penultimate day of the multi-sport event.

Both were given byes into the second round (Last 16) but it was to count for little.

Facing off against Japanese world champion Ko Matsuhisa in the men's kumite -75kg class, Mainudin advanced to the quarter-finals but was injured in the process and was unable to compete again.

In the men's kumite -84kg division, 24-year-old Mohammad Jamil lost 9-1 to Malaysia's Mohd Hatta Mahamut.

According to national karate-do coach Hj Okhida Simangasing, Matsuhisa was leading 4-0 when he delivered an illegal kick that nearly knocked the 23-year-old Mainudin out cold.

"The kick was to the bottom of his head, and since karate is not a full-body contact sport, the move was ruled out and Maniudin progressed," explained the coach when contacted by The Brunei Times yesterday.

"Since he was injured he could not compete in the quarter-finals against Hong Kong's Lee Ka Wai. He is alright now though, and he was attended to by Dr Danish (team doctor Dr Hj Danish Zaheer)," added the Indonesian.

The results cap a poor outing by the karate-do team after Muhammad Fida'iy Hj Sanif and older brother Mohammad Fadillah both faltered at the first hurdle on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Muhammad Fida'iy lost 3-0 to Nepal's Binod Maharjan in his first match which was in the Round of 32.

Mohammad Fadillah got a bye into the second round (Last 16) of the men's kumite -67kg category but the 31-year-old Bruneian failed to capitalise on the opportunity and fell 2-1 to Syria's Karem Othman.

The country has always done relatively well in the sport at the Games, winning three of its four bronze medals from the Japanese martial-art.

This year, however, it just wasn't to be.

"Maybe we just didn't have enough luck," said Hj Okhida.

"In terms of tactics and technique .... I think our exponents were a little hesitant.

"We still lack in exposure so now we have to prepare ourselves by competing in more events," added the Indonesian.

Kuwait's Hamad FFM Alnweam beat Chinese Taipei's Huang Hao Yun 4-2 to take gold in the men's kumite -75kg class while Lee and South Korea's Kim Do Wan shared bronze.

Iran's Jasem Modami Vishkaei beat Japan's Ryutaro Araga 6-2 to win the men's kumite -84kg division, where Chinese Taipei's Yen Tzu Yao and Jordan's Mutsembellah Khair were awarded joint-bronze.

Courtesy from Brunei Times