A driveway at Sports School in Kampong Pulaie was named after national wushu athlete Basma Lachkar, who has brought glory to the Sultanate at regional and international competitions.
Basma unveiled ‘Basma Drive’ at a ceremony yesterday witnessed by Ministry of Education Cluster Officer Jessica Tan Goon Sim as a gesture of appreciation organised by the Sports School.
The national athlete attending the ‘Basma at the 19th Asian Games’ appreciation ceremony, shared her experience in winning the silver medal at the Games in Hangzhou, China.
In her advice to the Sports School students she said, “I believe it is important to take care of physical and mental health and then pursue your career.”
She also recalled her moment of winning silver in the Asian Games and shared her preparations and training schedule.
Basma sharing her reason for joining wushu, said, “I started wushu when I was at Chung wa Middle School. I didn’t have any other choice for Co-Curricular Activity and I joined my brother. I didn’t enjoy it at first as there was a lot of punching and kicking. I am more of a dancer as I did ballet previously. As I trained with my brother, I started to like the sport. When my brother was invited to train at the Menglait Sports Complex with national coach Li Hui, I noticed their flexibility. The next day I joined the training and has never stopped since then.”
Fitness Zone General Manager Pengiran Farhana binti Pengiran Haji Bujang also presented Basma and six other students of the Sports School tokens of appreciation.
Basma, a former student at Sports School from 2016 to 2019, is the first to receive a special scholarship scheme in sports.
She won one silver in the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Malaysia, a silver and a bronze in the 2019 SEA Games in Philippines, a gold medal in Birmingham, United States in the World Games, a bronze medal in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games 2023 and a silver medal in the 19th Asian Games.
National female wushu coach Zhao Chunjie was also in attendance. – James Kon
