BRUNEI Darussalam national equestrian Pengiran Mohd Nasir bin Pengiran Anak Ja’afar finished in 59th place in the first qualification round of the individual jumping event in the 18th Asian Games at the Jakarta International Equestrian Park in Jakarta yesterday.
The national athlete and his horse Ivory de Roulard accumulated a score of 19.08 in his competitive start at the event.
Pengiran Mohd Nasir and his horse will return to the course in Qualifier 1 of the individual jumping event today as he seeks for an improved showing from his first-day result.
The field also featured some of Bruneian’s rivals in the SEA Games with reigning champions Sharmini Christina Ratnasingham finishing in 52nd place with a score of 13.03.
Sharmini’s compatriot Mohd Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil, who is seeking for a second medal at the Games following his silver success in the dressage event, finished in 26th place with a score of 6.17.
Saudi Arabia’s Ramzy Hamad Alduhami announced his intent of Asian Games glory after topping the round with a flawless score while his national teammate Khaled Abdulrahman Almobty finished in second place with 0.40 points. Qatar’s Ali Althani finished in third place with 1.02 points.
Defending champion Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Waleed Sharbatly languished in 14th place with 4.19 points while Japan’s Taizo Sugitani, who clinched bronze in the 2014 Games in Incheon, took seventh with 2.51 points.
Meanwhile, Brunei Darussalam national pencak silat athlete Norleyermah binti Haji Raya did not make the cut for the gold medal round in the women’s artistic singles event after posting a score of 437.
Norleyermah finished fourth in the preliminary round in Group ‘B’ behind Puspa Arumsari, who eventually bagged gold for Indonesia after a final round score of 467, Thailand’s Mamu Salini and Singapore’s Nurzuhairah Mohammad Yazid.
Nurzuhairah won the silver medal by a single point after posting 445 with Philippines’ Cherry May Regalado settling for bronze with 444.
Laos’ Vilaysack Tunee, who topped the preliminary round in Group ‘A’, narrowly missed out on a place in the podium with 443 points.
Brunei Darussalam’s involvement in pencak silat continues as the trio of Anisah Najihah binti Abdullah, Nurazimatunnaemah Simat and Qistina Athirah Zainal compete in the team artistic event tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in athletics, national sprinter Mohd Noor Firdaus Ar-Rasyid will look to break his personal best in the 200m event at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium today.
