His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah (pic) yesterday reminded the national sepak takraw team to stay focused at the 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, China.

The president of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BNOC), the Prince yesterday visited the team at the Athletes Village and advised them to be prepared for the challenges at hand during the June 16-22 tournament.

Finishing joint-third during the previous two editions in 2008 and 2010, the team who will once again be competing in the inter-regu discipline take on Indonesia tomorrow and Myanmar on Thursday.

They will need to beat one of the two to progress to the semi-finals, where their campaign was halted by Myanmar in both 2008 and 2010.

A total of 13 sports are being contested in Haiyang though the sepak takraw team are the only ones representing the Sultanate.

In a Press statement issued by the country's chef de mission at the Games, Mariam Ulat explained that the Prince used yesterday's visit to impart some advice and motivate the players.

"One important thing that HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah did during the visit was to remind the players to focus during the Games," said Mariam in the statement.

"He also told them that InsyaAllah (God willing), if they can focus all their attention during the Games, they will be able to give a strong fight.

"HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah advised the players not to be nervous during the matches as that will affect their performance and he also prayed that the team will always be in good health and are prepared for the Games," she added.

The Prince was met by Dancy Zhang of the Asian Beach Games Organising Committee's External Relations Department upon arrival at the Village, as well as Mariam, technical officials and the national team.

Courtesy from Brunei Times