Fadhil Yunus
The growing number of competitions both local and overseas this year represents a welcome boost to the sports industry, especially after the country had been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
A series of postponements and cancellations during the height of the global health crisis amid the closure of borders as well as movement restrictions had thrown sports activities into doubt.
As the world re-opened its borders and the threat of the pandemic waned, national athletes were able to participate in competitive meets both in the country and overseas with adequate training.
Previously, specific guidelines were enforced indicating the limitations in training especially when it came to contact sports, with athletes at one stage instructed to leave the facility once they completed their training immediately as part of social distancing measures.
During several major competitions in the last few years, athletes were also made to stay in designated bubbles or zones while COVID-19 testing was also required.
The sport landscape has substantially changed since then as organisers are given the full range of flexibility to host tournaments without the mandatory wearing of masks. It has also prevented from any complications especially when it comes to the capacity of participants in a running event as there is no limit on the number of participants except for safety purposes.
The participation of both athletes and spectators has been encouraging to provide a lively and energetic atmosphere normally seen before the pandemic.
The ability to perform in competitions has also spurred the development of sports in the country, as is notably evident with the male fencing team winning a bronze medal in the Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Championships (SEAFFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The biggest sporting highlight of the year is undoubtedly the achievement of national wushu exponent Mohd Adi Salihin bin Roslan who cemented his status as the country’s most decorated athlete in the Southeast Asian (SEA Games).
The national sensation won his third gold medal in consecutive tournaments and even defended his Men’s Nanquan title, a rare achievement in the history of the SEA Games.
The country also celebrated the achievement of his compatriot and national wushu teammate Hosea Wong Zheng Yu who delivered the nation’s second gold medal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The country’s haul of two gold medals ensured the country’s record as the second most awarded ‘overseas’ SEA Games behind their appearance in the 2019 edition when they won two golds, five silver and six bronze.
The local football season has been continuously interrupted in the last few years with multiple postponements which eventually led to cancellations.
While the crowning of the Brunei Futsal Cup and Brunei FA Cup winners ended the wait of a club in winning silverware, the resumption of the Brunei Super League and the Brunei Futsal League marked the return of major national competitions.
This has also been expanded to the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) Youth Under-15 and Under-18 Leagues which have seen their commencement this month.
In addition, this season has witnessed the return of DPMM FC in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) with familiar faces including Head Coach Adrian Pennock, Goalkeeping Coach Jorge, Fitness Coach Jason Moriarty as well as foreign import Andrei Varankou.
The club has also been able to hold trials from various nationalities is another sign of the club’s return to standard practice in preparing for a competition.
Recently, the Albirex Niigata (S) SEA Youth Cup held at the Sports School allowed an opportunity for the country’s youth teams to be exposed in a competitive environment. The event was made possible following the cooperation between Dash Football Academy and Albirex Singapore Football Academy and was powered by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Asia.
The Brunei national netball team was also represented in the Deloitte Super League in Singapore last March while the Under-21 Team participated in the Asian Youth Netball Championship in Jeonju, South Korea.
Furthermore, this year has seen Brunei host competitions sanctioned by regional bodies such as the Southeast Asian Table Tennis Associations (SEATTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
The ITF Asia 12 and Under Team Competition served as a qualifying event for nations based in Southeast Asia. The most recent regional tournament with Brunei were given awarding rights to host the Southeast Asia Youth Table Tennis Brunei Championships 2023. The tournament, which featured the best young talents in the region, highlighted a celebration of diversity, unity and enduring bonds that connects the nations.
In the regional scene, Brunei Darussalam was represented in the 12th ASEAN Para Games with national para-athlete Nor Hensan binti Haji Mataha bringing back home two gold medals and Mohd Raduan bin Haji Mataha winning one.
Obstacle racing in the country has also gained recognition following the establishment of a national team who represented in the SEA Games for the first time.
