The Brunei Darussalam national contingent bagged two gold medals in pencak silat and one bronze each in karate and athletics during the second day of the 11th BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games 2024 in Puerto Princesa, Philippines yesterday.
The two golds came from the men’s team comprising Awangku Muhd Azhar Nasrullah bin Pengiran Haji Yasrizam Ayub, Muhd Shafiq bin Sufri and Muhammad Hadi Arfan bin Haji Zulkifli and the women’s team comprising Nursyahindah binti Saiful Rizal, Nursyahirah Mawaddah binti Lufti and Nursyarafana binti Saiful Rizal.
The men’s team registered a total of 9.940 points to beat Philippines ‘A’ – backed by a fervent home crowd at the Robinson Mall – who managed 9.915 points.
The women’s team replicated the feat after recording a score of 9.945 points, denying Philippines ‘A’ glory on home soil who settled for silver with 9.905 points.
Brunei also secured a bronze in karate through exponent Muhd Bazly bin Syukri who beat Philippines ‘D’s Karl Lester L Palatino in the men’s individual kata repechage match.
The national karateka exponent recorded a total of 35.4 points compared to his opponent who posted a score of 31.2 points.
The athletics contingent also contributed the nation’s medal haul with bronze through athlete Kasyful Asymawi bin Haji Khairul Arifin in the men’s 800-metre event.
The runner clocked a time of 2:01.52s behind Malaysia ‘B’s Erwin Grenggori who won gold with a time of 1:58.78s with Philippines ‘E’s Joel A Jr Dela Rosa taking silver with 1:58.91s.
Meanwhile, pencak silat will be guaranteed at least a silver to their medal collection after exponent Mohamad Iskandar bin Mohamad Hasan won his semi-final bout against a Malaysia ‘A’ opponent.
The nation’s latest pencak silat medallist earned a shot of winning gold in the final after recording a total of 9.920 points, faring better against his rival who fell short with 9.910 points.
The karate representatives can also look forward to another medal after the men’s kata team comprising Farhan Ildan bin Asnan, Muhd Iqbal bin Asnan and Muhd Syahmi Zaffran bin Bakar advanced to the final. The trio collected a score of 37.7 points at the expense of Malaysia ‘B’ to book their spot in the gold medal match.
Meanwhile in badminton, the runs of national shuttler Mohd Talipuddin bin Ermadena and the pairing of Mohd Izzuddin bin Ermadena and Mohammad Haziq bin Roze came to an end in the men’s singles and doubles’ semi-finals respectively.
Mohd Talipuddin lost his match against Malaysia 17-21 18-21 with the duo of Mohd Izzuddin and Mohammad Haziq also stopped in their tracks after a 19-21 16-21 defeat by Indonesia. – Fadhil Yunus
