| Azlan Othman |
A 26-MEMBER contingent of the Brunei Darussalam Sports School Council (MSSSBD) left for Singapore yesterday to participate in the 9th Asean School Games. The tournament will last for nine days from July 13-21, 2017.
The MSSSBD contingent is led by Haji Azis bin Haji Nayan, the Acting Director of the Co-Curriculum Education Department who is also the Chef de Mission. He told the Bulletin that the Brunei contingent consists of eight officers and 18 athletes and will take part in three sports events namely table tennis, sepak takraw and tenpin bowling.
“We hope that the contingent could show stiff competition, do their best and gain success. As preparation, these athletes have already undergone centralised training beginning in March under the guidance of the coaches and assistant instructors.”
The athletes comprise a selected group of students from various secondary schools participating in tournaments organised by the Co-Curriculum Education Department.
Brunei Darussalam will also receive the appointment as President of Asean Schools Sports Council (ASSC) during the 54th ASSC Management Committee (MC) Meeting on July 14, 2017 for a period of two years from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 to replace Vietnam, the President of ASSC for 2016-2017.
Present as the representative of Deputy Minister of Education to receive the appointment will be Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education who also left yesterday for Singapore.
The best achievement of the MSSSBD in the tournament was one gold medal, one silver medal and three bronze medals when Brunei Darussalam hosted the competition back in 2015. The tournament is organised every year since 2009 and Asean member countries take turns to host the championship.
Brunei Darussalam Sports School Council (MSSSBD) contingent pose for a group photo prior to their departure to Singapore to participate in the 9th Asean School Games
This year will see first time participation from Myanmar, making it all 10 Asean countries at the tournament.
Among the objectives of the Asean School Games is to help foster a greater collaboration among students from Asean member countries, spur social progress through cooperation in sports, encourage more active cooperation and communication in sports and contributing towards peace and stability in Asean region, to produce future elite athletes in the Asean region and to support the policy of Asean member states towards a healthy life style through sports activities.
Mohd Faizuri bin Safar from Tutong Sixth Form Centre said he will represent the nation in tenpin bowling and training has been conducted for the past several months including fitness.
“We hope to get podium finish for the country. Four participants will compete in single, double and team events. We got silver medal in the tournament held in the Philippines. Previously, I competed in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, the Philippines and many more,” he added.
Another athlete, Mohd Nazirul Azmi bin Masdi from Pehin Dato Seri Maharaja Secondary School in Mentiri will take part in the sepak takraw event and hopes to get a medal. “This is the first time that I compete in this international meet,” he said.
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