Fadhil Yunus
Brunei Darussalam’s petanque athlete Masli bin Haji Mohd Said carved his name in the record books after securing the bronze medal for his country in the recently-concluded 4th Asian Petanque Championship 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The local athlete reached the semi-finals in the men’s shooting event where he was then defeated 25-33 by Thailand’s Sarawut Sriboonpeng.
Nevertheless, his passage to the last-four phase ensured him a podium finish, and shared joint bronze alongside Japan’s Mizumoto Toshiyuki.
Earlier in the quarterfinals – the biggest and most prestigious this year in terms of stature for the national team – Masli edged Vietnam’s Ly Ngoc Tai 23-22 in a tightly-contested affair.
In the qualification rounds, Brunei’s Masli was ranked sixth overall after accumulating 20 points, earning him a berth in the quarterfinals.
Cambodia’s Thong Chhoeun struck gold while Masli conqueror Sriboonpeng settled for silver.
The Bruneian’s achievement drew parallels with the country’s first medal in the Asian-level competition coming from the men’s trio team comprising the late Haji Yusof bin Mohammad, Hamidun bin Haji Abdul Hamid and Zunaidi bin Haji Ali in 2012.
In the women’s shooting event, Brunei’s Wedy Nurul Suzuna binti Luon advanced to the quarterfinals, where she was stopped in her tracks by Vietnam’s Thach Thianhlan in a 22-3 loss.
Meanwhile, the men’s triples team comprising Mazlan bin Haji Yahya, Wirna bin Haji Mohamad Yassin, Masli and Zunaidi team qualified to the quarterfinals after finishing eighth out of 14 entrants.
However, the national team was eliminated in the last eight following a 13-4 defeat to Thailand.
Brunei Darussalam Petanque Federation (BDPF) President Haji Mohamad bin Panglima Asgar Dato Paduka Haji Abdullah and Brunei Darussalam Head of Delegation Hajah Norhaini binti Haji Dollah were in attendance to provide moral support to the team.
In this year’s edition, Brunei Darussalam sent participants in the men’s shooting, women’s shooting, men’s triples and women’s triples events.
