Mental fatigue led to the national sepak takraw team's 2-0 semi-final loss to Myanmar in the 2nd Asian Beach Games men's regu in Muscat on Wednesday.

"We were not able to play well and kept sending the ball too wide. Maybe it's because luck was not on our side, and the players were also mentally tired after doing their best against Indonesia to book a ticket into the semi-finals," said team manager Hj Mohd Noor Hj Hamid in a statement to The Brunei Times last night.

Led by captain Ismail Ang, the national sepak takraw team clinched a much needed 2-0 (24-22, 21-15) win over Indonesia in their final Pool A men's regu preliminary match on Tuesday.

However, their spot in the semi-finals was not confirmed yet, their fate to be determined by the Thailand-Indonesia match the next day.

In the end, Thailand did the Sultanate a favour beating Indonesia 21-13, 21-10 to not only cement their reputation as the favourites but also grant Brunei a spot in the semi-finals.

Yet that was as far as they got, undefeated Pool B leaders Myanmar beating Brunei 21-13 in the first set, before sealing the victory by a 21-10 scoreline in the second set for a berth in the final.

Their winning streak were brought to an end when Thailand successfully defended their title, crushing Myanmar 21-14, 21-11 to claim gold.

The feat in Muscat means that it is the second consecutive time the national sepak takraw team have clinched a medal at the Asian Beach Games.

It is the second bronze medal for skipper Ismail Ang, Mohammad Azri Tahir and Mohammad Shukri Jaineh, who alongside former teammates Jamaluddin Hj Marzi and Mohd Selamat Yakub also reached the semi-finals in Bali.

The five finished joint-third alongside Malaysia in the first edition in 2008.

Courtesy from Brunei Times