| Lyna Mohamad |
MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof officiated the farewell reception of the Brunei-Japan Badminton Exchange held for commemorating His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 70th birthday celebration.
The reception took place yesterday at The Empire Hotel & Country Club.
In her welcoming speech, Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Noriko Iki noted that following the conclusion of the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japan looks forward to hosting the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games.
The ambassador further noted that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched the ‘Sport for Tomorrow’ programme, which is an international contribution plan to expand the value of sports and the Olympic/Paralympic movement to more than 10 million people in over 100 countries by 2020.
The Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam has been involved in the Sport for Tomorrow programme. This commemorative special exchange is also recognised as part of the Sport for Tomorrow programme, for which the ambassador believes that it was exciting for the people of Brunei to watch the matches between the national level badminton players of two countries, including Olympians from both sides, namely Sno Sasaki of Japan and Jasper Yu Woon Chai of Brunei Darussalam.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Noriko Iki with the participants of the Brunei-Japan Badminton Exchange. – PHOTOS: SYAHMI HASSAN
ABOVE & BELOW: Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi presenting certificates to members of the badminton delegation.
She also believes the coaching carried out for potential Brunei professional badminton players as well as school students – including those from Sports School in Brunei, Jerudong International School (JIS) and International School Brunei (ISB) – certainly enhanced the skills and inspired these players.
“This commemorative Brunei-Japan badminton exchange is realised through collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, the Nippon Badminton Association and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei Darussalam National Badminton Association as co-organisers,” the ambassador said.
She noted the delegation from the Japan National Team over their five-day stay has been involved in a series of events, which includes two days of practice matches against professional Bruneian players and various coaching sessions with students.
“More than anything else, we had the tremendous honour of receiving His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and the royal family at the Indoor Stadium last Wednesday during the second day of practice matches.”
The ambassador later expressed gratitude, on behalf of all the Japanese authorities concerned, to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Brunei) and the Brunei National Badminton Association for their kind and continued cooperation in coordinating these events, and in particular, the support of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in helping to ensure the success of this special exchange event.
She also noted that a delegation from the Japan National TV had the opportunity to enjoy a tour of Brunei’s tourist hotspots and experience the local culture during their leisure time.
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