James Kon
Five aspiring national athletes were awarded much needed support and motivation by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to give their best in delivering podium success for Brunei Darussalam after the signing of Athlete Funding Programme Contract yesterday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad witnessed the signing at the ministry’s Dewan Digadong.
Director of Youth and Sports Umi Kalthum binti Haji Abdul Karim inked on the dotted line while five athletes – Basma Lachkar, Mohammad Adi Salihin bin Roslan and Hosea Wong Zheng Yu from Wushu and Muhammad Ali Saifullah bin Abdullah Muhd Suhaimi and Nur Wasiqah Aziemah binti Rosihan from pencak silat – signed the contract.
The Athlete Funding Programme is a long-term strategic initiative targetting prospects who demonstrate the best chance of delivering podium success for the Sultanate with the right support.
It aims to deliver the message to aspiring athletes that their hard work and potential will be recognised and that it is possible to be a full-time athlete in Brunei. It is also hoped that it will inspire more athletes to get involved in sport and physical exercise as a whole.
According to the MCYS, through the programme, recipients will receive monthly allowances, meals and enhanced performance services, including sports science, nutritional and psychological support. Currently, the ministry’s existing incentives scheme (Skim Penggalak Kecemerlangan Sukan, SPKS) rewards national athletes who have achieved podium success at Contingent Games at the regional and international arena, such as the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
The Athlete Funding Programme will serve as an additional motivating factor for athletes to strive for sporting excellence, and ensure that role model athletes have a competitive edge and the best chance of success.
Recipients of the programme comprise athletes who have achieved podium and medal success in previous editions of the SEA Games and portray outstanding achievements in their sport at the international level, such as the World Games.
They have also demonstrated consistency in their performance as well as potential for future medals in specific “high performance” sports targetted by the ministry.
Meanwhile, also in attendance at the signing were Permanent Secretary (Sports) at the MCYS Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Permanent Secretary (Youth) at the MCYS Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin and Acting Director of Youth and Sports Development Zainab binti Haji Morshidi.
