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 in a group photo with the contingent. PHOTO: FADHIL YUNUS
Seven members of the Brunei Darussalam national contingent comprising pencak silat athletes left the country yesterday to take part in the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, which will be held from May 12 to 23.
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 bade farewell to the contingent at the Brunei International Airport.
Permanent Secretary (Administration, Finance and Estate) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud and officers from the Department of Youth and Sports were also present.
The four participating athletes are Anisah Najihah binti Abdullah, Norleyermah binti Haji Raya, Nur Wasiqah Aziemah binti Rosihan and Muhd Adi Saifullah bin Haji Muhd Suhaimi.
The national contingent, led by Acting Deputy Director of Youth and Sports Haji Mohamad Rosfazilah bin Haji Yusly in his capacity as the Chef de Mission, also included a coach and secretariat.
Prior to departure, Haji Mohamad Rosfazilah said in an interview, “I believe the selected athletes can provide competition to the participating countries in their respective sports at the SEA Games.”
The athletes are scheduled to compete at the Bac Tu Liem Sporting Hall on May 10 and 11. Besides pencak silat, this year’s edition will also see Brunei contesting in wushu, e-sports and karate.
The country will be making its maiden appearance in e-sports in the multi-sport festival.
Brunei’s overall medal haul currently stands at 14 golds, 56 silvers and 184 bronzes since making their debut appearance in in 1977.Its best achievement came in 1999 when the Sultanate played hosts having accumulated a total of four gold medals, 12 silvers and 32 bronzes.
The Sultanate’s last participation was in the Philippines in 2019 with two gold medals, five silvers and six bronzes to their name.
The next batch of the contingent is expected to leave the country on May 10.
