ABOVE & BELOW: His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, hands the national flag to Brunei contingent’s Chef de Mission Haji Mohamad Rosfazilah bin Haji Yusly; and His Royal Highness being introduced to members of the Brunei contingent to the 31st Southeast Asian Games. PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin speaks to the contingent ahead of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam
The Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam will continue to develop sports and expand the pool of exceptional athletes.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin said this during his welcoming remarks at the national flag handover ceremony yesterday to Brunei Darussalam’s contingent to the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
On the Sultanate’s investment in sports, he said “the best coaches have been brought in for sports like wushu, karate, taekwondo, swimming and fencing”.
Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan said the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), national sport associations, coaches and athletes have worked together with Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) to identify and develop sporting talents professionally and systematically.
“It shows the importance of continuous commitment and whole-of-nation dedication,” he added.
“Insya Allah, I am confident that initiatives including holding more sports competitions at the national level, especially Brunei Darussalam National Games (SKBD), will be a key factor in ensuring the growth of sports to bring glory to the Sultanate in current and upcoming championships.
“We are also looking forward to the completion of upgrades to Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium to provide a better platform for sports, particularly martial arts training,” said the minister.
Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan meanwhile congratulated the 39 members of the Brunei contingent, particularly the 23 athletes competing in four sports – wushu, pencak silat, karate and e-sports.
He said the athletes were selected by the executive committee according to several criteria and unbiased, evidence-based evaluation.
The selection was not an easy task, the minister said, because of the sacrifices and energy-intensive investment made by the nation’s best athletes, particularly with extra challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister reminded the national athletes to keep the target of winning medals in mind and break national records as well as the medal tally from previous SEA Games.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, as the President of BDNOC, attended the ceremony as guest of honour, who handed the national flag to Brunei contingent’s Chef de Mission Haji Mohamad Rosfazilah bin Haji Yusly.
His Royal Highness also mingled with the contingent and gave encouragement and advice.
Brunei began competing in SEA Games in 1977.
To date, the Sultanate has won 14 golds, 56 silvers and 184 bronzes.
The biggest haul of medals was when Brunei hosted the games in 1999 where four golds, 12 silvers and 32 bronzes were collected.
The Sultanate’s last participation in the SEA Games was in 2019 in the Philippines with two golds, five silvers and six bronzes.
