SUKMA Banking on silat for medals

Two more teams leave for Pahang Malaysia Games

TWO other teams were off to the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Pahang, Malaysia.

The pencak silat and sepak takraw teams departed the Brunei International Airport in Berakas yesterday for the July 7-16 event.

Chef de mission Pg Mohd Amirrizal Pg Hj Mahmud, who is heading a Bruneian contingent for the first time, left for the Games with the teams.

Their previous haul was one gold and seven bronze medals which they bagged in Melaka two years ago when Brunei sent 67 athletes in 13 sports.

This year Brunei are only sending 51 athletes to compete in nine sports football, athletics, cycling, golf, karatedo, taekwando and wushu being the others and no specific target has been set for the Pahang Games.

"We can't compare with the previous outing because the number of sports contested and the number of athletes competing is different. All we can do is to try our best and win medals," said Pg Mohd Amirrizal during an interview with the media prior to their departure yesterday.

"We haven't set any target, but we believe that each athlete will give it his/her all to win medals for the country," he added.

On which sports have the best prospects of returning with medals, he replied: "Pencak silat, cycling, golf and wushu."

The pencak silat team contributed two bronze medals in their last outing in Melaka.

The national junior silat coach Mochamad Nasri is hoping that his team of eight exponents six males and two females can deliver the goods.

"I want the athletes to push really hard because we are ready and have prepared well, both physically and mentally," said Mochamad.

"I want the athletes to be at their maximum performance," he added.

The duo of Mohd Arif Ismail and Ahmad Salman Hj Abdullah, who won silver in the seni ganda event at the ongoing 4th ASEAN School Games in Indonesia on Monday, will join the team only on Saturday together with the other batch of athletes.

This year's edition will mark the eighth time that the Sultanate are participating in the multi-sport event. This year will also mark the second time that Brunei will be heading to Pahang for SUKMA, with the first in 1996 when the Sultanate made their debut in the tournament where they returned with one gold and one silver medals.

A total of 24 sports will be contested in Pahang, where 382 gold, 382 silver and 455 bronze medals are up for grabs.The Brunei Times