Fadhil Yunus
Brunei Darussalam historic stars returned home to a heroes’ welcome following their medal-winning accomplishments during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia recently.
Brunei’s most successful SEA Games sportsman Mohammad Adi Salihin bin Roslan brought home the gold medal in the Men’s Nanquan event while Hosea Wong Zheng Yu doubled the tally with a win in the Combined Men’s Taijijian and Taijiquan event. Mohammad Adi Salihin’s third gold medal puts him in a league of his own, becoming the only Bruneian to win gold in three consecutive appearances at the SEA Games.
The country’s iconic wushu star repeated the feat he achieved in the Philippines in 2019 and in Vietnam in 2022.
He also etched his name in the record books after defending the Men’s Nanquan title with a score of 9.636 points.
Hosea Wong won his maiden gold medal, upgrading the silver and bronze from Manila when the Taijijian and Taijiquan events were contested individually.
The national sensation edged Singapore’s Tay Yu Xuan – whom he knew from his Asian Junior days – after accumulating a total of 19.189 points.
The pair’s heroics also ensured the country’s most successful showing not just in wushu but in any sport at a single SEA Games appearance.
Brunei also contributed two bronze in wushu through female athlete Basma Lachkar in the Combined Women’s Taijiquan and Taijijian event and the duo of Majdurano Joel bin Majallah Sain and Abel Lim Wee Yuan in the Men’s Duilian event.
Basma completed her round with a total of 19.160 points while both Majdurano Joel and Abel Lim accrued a total of 9.283 points.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad welcomed the athletes home and presented sashes to the medallists at the Brunei International Airport on Saturday.
Permanent Secretary (Sports) at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Acting Director of Youth and Sports Haji Rosfazilah bin Haji Yusly, as well as officers and staff from the Youth and Sports Department were also present.
Meanwhile, national athletes representing the country in athletics also arrived home.
