His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council at the World Trade Center in Pasig, the Philippines. PHOTOS: INFOFOTO
Brunei Darussalam mixed pairs duo Hyde Nachman Hijium and Hyde Nathania Hijium
Brunei Darussalam will continue their pursuit of ending a three-day jinx of being away from the podium in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games after the taekwondo team became the latest sport after karate, golf and athletics that came short of adding to the overall medal tally.
National athletes Hyde Nachman Hijium and Hyde Nathania Hijium completed their individual poomsae events well outside the podium placings as well as the mixed pairs where they are paired together at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, the Philippines.
Hyde Nachman recorded a score of 7.465 points while Hyde Nathania ended her routine with a score of 7.399 points. Two of Hyde Nathania rivals had already set the standard before her turn with the Philippines and Thailand both eclipsing the eight-point mark.
Philippines dominated the individual events as both Rodolfo Reyes and Jocel Lyn Ninobla in the men’s and women’s delivered gold in front of an ecstatic home crowd. The mixed pairs event represented the final hope for the duo but a final score of 7.599 looked be the final straw with more countries to come.
Indonesia, whose turn on the platform was next, confirmed Brunei’s fate after they knocked them off medal contention with a score of 7.866 points, which temporarily moved them to second place.
The national contingent’s last medal came in lawn bowls when the quartet of Bahren Abdul Rahman, Mohd Hazmi bin Haji Idris, Haji Amli bin Haji Gafar and Haji Osman bin Haji Yahya copped silver.
The country’s involvement in billiard sport will come to focus again as pool competitor Ahmad Taufiq bin Murni will be in action in the men’s nine-ball pool singles.
Events in Calatagan, Batangas will be closely monitored with the Brunei Darussalam polo team facing hosts Philippines with a place in the gold medal match to play for.
Meanwhile at the World Trade Center in Pasig, the karate trio of Rodhyatul Adhwanna binti Bakar, Amirah Syahidah binti Abdul Rahim and Farhana Najeeha binti Abdul Rahman will be in action in the team kata.
Brunei will also be represented in the kumite events with Amirah Syahidah taking on Philippines’ Mae Soriano in the under-55kg quarterfinal while Awangku Muhd Abdul Quddus bin Pengiran Haji Zainal will compete in the preliminary round of the under 60kg category.
