Brunei's SUKMA sepak takraw coach Hj Zaman Hj Samat (R) talks to his players during yesterday's quarter-finals of the men's doubles event against Negri Sembilan. Picture: Infofoto
Brunei players (yellow) in action against Negri Sembilan. The team were sent packing after losing 2-0 (21-19, 21-8). Picture: Infofoto
It was the end of the road for the national sepak takraw team at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) yesterday after they were dumped out of the quarter-finals of the men's doubles event after suffering a 2-0 loss to Negeri Sembilan.
The team of Mohd Alliffuddin Jamaludin, Abdul Wasi' Nordin Mohammad Sahrul Nizam Gapar and Mohammad Hazim Mohammad Ali were edged 21-19 in the opening set before Negeri Sembilan switched gears to win the second set 21-8 to move into the semi-finals of the competition at the Dewan 2020 in Kangar, Perlis.
The Sultanate started off Group B with a surprise 2-1 (12-21, 21-15, 21-9) defeat at the hands of Sabah on Wednesday.
They bounced back with a 2-1 (13-21, 21-17, 21-12) comeback win over Federal Territories on Thursday before sealing their berth in the last-eight with another 2-1 (12-21, 21-14, 21-18) comeback victory over Kedah.
Brunei will continue their campaign at the Games with athletics today at the Stadium Tuanku Syed Putra in Kangar. Mohd Adenin Bolhan will compete in the men's shot put event while Norhidayatullah Johari is set to race in the 200m event, where her personal best is 26.04s.
The latter competed in the women's 100m on Thursday where she clocked a time of 12.87s and 12.98s in Heat 2 and the semi-finals respectively. Her best time remains at 12.42s. There are still no change in the medal tally for the Sultanate as karateka Md Izzuddin Irfan Md Faizal bagged the country's only medal of the tournament at the Kolej Matrikulasi Perlis, Arau on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old surprised everyone after defeating Julius Goh of Johor 9-2 in the final of the 84kg and above category. The gold medal means that the Sultanate has improved on its medal haul during its last participation at the Under-21 multi-sport competition.
The 2012 team finished last and were the only ones without a gold or silver after returning home with four bronze medals in Pahang - three of them shared. Brunei have sent a 25-member contingent to compete in five sports - pencak silat and taekwando being the others - in Perlis this year.
Terengganu, overall champions in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012, continue to lead the table having amassed 29 gold, 26 silver and 15 bronze medals. Federal Territories are second with 25 gold, 20 silver and 24 bronze medals while Sarawak are third with19 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze.
