The Ministry of Education contingent through the Sports School returned home to a heroes’ welcome in the wee hours of yesterday morning following their medal-winning exploits at the 24th Thailand Sports School Games in Lamphang Province, Thailand recently.
The contingent, which was represented by seven athletes and led by Mohammad Helme bin Panjang as the Chef de Mission as well as two coaches and a medical officer, bagged five silver and three bronze medals in the week-long meet.
The five silver medals came in pencak silat through Fatin Hazirah binti Muhidi in the female tanding Category ‘A’; Nur Fatin Marzuqah binti Abdullah Asrizal in the female tanding Category ‘C’; Muhd Azinuddin bin Mohd Azree in the male tanding Category ‘B’; Muhd Firdaus bin Muhidi in the male tanding Category ‘C’; and karate through Muhd Haneef bin Metassan in the under-16 (-52kg category) kumite event.
The three bronze came in karate through Mohd Zul Fahmi bin Roslan in the under-16 (-57kg category) kumite event; and Awangku Mohd Khalil bin Pengiran Kamarul Zaman in the under-16 (+68kg category) kumite event and under-16 team kumite event.
Muhd Firdaus said in an interview with the Bulletin, “I learnt a lot during my experience at the Thailand Sports School Games. There is a contrast in experience in terms of comparing competing overseas to locally.”
He continued, “The competition is at a higher level overseas.”
His karate teammate Nur Fatin Marzuqah said, “I feel quite nervous at first but I was highly spirited to do well helped by the support of family and friends.”
Meanwhile, Muhd Haneef said, “I met a strong opponent in the final which was a new experience for me. Although I felt a bit surprised to meet a strong opponent, I tried my best and it was a narrow loss.” – Fadhil Yunus
