An Indonesian player (L) delivers an overhead shot against Brunei during the beach sepak takraw competition at the 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, China. Brunei finished the Games with joint-bronze in the inter-regu competition.Picture: AFP

Brunei finished the Asian Beach Games with joint-bronze in the inter-regu competition once again after losing their semi-final tie against eventual champions Thailand on Thursday.

The Sultanate was always going to have a hard time going up against the world's top ranked team, but falling 3-0 (15-4, 15-8, 15-7), they can at least take some solace knowing they were able to provide more resistance in the second and third set.

The Games ended yesterday in China's eastern seaside city of Haiyang with the hosts topping the medal table with 14 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals, followed by Thailand with 13 gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals.

Four of Thailand's gold medals came in the sepak takaraw competition, where they made a clean sweep of all four gold medals on offer at the Fengxiang Beach.

The Thais outclassed China 3-0 (15-4, 17-16, 15-11) yesterday to grab gold in the inter-regu discipline, and outlining their dominance in the sport, also won the men's team, women's team and women's inter-regu events.

Brunei shared bronze with Indonesia, who lost out on a place in the final to China on Thursday.

China beat Indonesia 3-2 (16-14, 15-9, 12-15, 9-15, 15-7) to seal their spot in yesterday's championship decider.

The third edition of the Games, more than 2,000 athlete from 45 countries competed in 13 sports though Brunei only saw action in the sepak takraw competition, a move that was made based on their performances during the previous two edition.

The country finished joint-third during the 2008 and 2010 editions, sharing bronze with Myanmar in both instances.

Ittiphol Chomchaissak's men were grouped with Myanmar and Indonesia at the June 16-22 biennial tournament, but Myanmar's decision to pull out of the event at the 11th hour meant Brunei and Indonesia would progress to the semi-finals and finish with at least joint-bronze.

Indonesia beat Brunei 3-2 (15-10, 13-15, 15-8, 14-16, 16-14) on Wednesday to advance as Group A winners, with runners-up Brunei were forced to face Thailand, who topped Group B.

Lack of experience couldn't have been a factor in Brunei's campaign as five of the six players Ismail Ang, Mohd Azri Tahir, Mohd Shukri Jaineh, Abdul Amin Mahari and Nur Alimin Sunggoh also represented the country at the last edition in Muscat, Oman.

Mohd Basyiruddin Hj Kamis completed the list of six players.

Courtesy from Brunei Times