| Fadhil Yunus |
YANG Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billahset nine age group records for nine-year-old boys over the last two days of competition in the 1st Brunei Open & Masters Short Course Swimming Championships at the 25m internationally certified swimming pool at International School Brunei (ISB) in Salambigar yesterday.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim added five more age group records in the second and final day of competition in the 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 100m IM and 200m backstroke events.
Continuing on a quartet of records from the opening day, Yang Teramat Mulia surpassed his old time of 56.00s with a new time of 53.11s in the 50m backstroke and repeated the feat in the 100m breaststroke when he smashed his seed time of 2:13.10 with a revised time of 2:10.16.
He also completed the 50m freestyle with a time of 42.44s and set a new time of 1:54.30 in the 100m IM.
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, with Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Ra-haman, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah binti Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah. – INFOFOTO
Yang Teramat Mulia was the youngest competitor in the 200m backstroke but achieved a new time of 4:07.72.
Meanwhile, Paul Yong of Dolphin Swimming Club made history as the eldest competitor to win a medal in the butterfly event.
The inspiring 75-year-old has an important message to the rest of the swimmers at the back of his success especially after going toe-to-toe with a 39-year-old, almost half his age.
“My aim is to live as far as possible to be stress-free. Stress is very damaging to health and one need to maintain a circle of friends.”
The most senior participant of the competition has hoped to set a great example for people of all ages to continue their physical activities.
“As we grow older, we need more physical activities. Apart from physical exercise our diet is also very important,” he noted.
As in any sport, swimmers will reach a certain age where they will face retirement but Yong’s achievement on the pool has set new boundaries of achieving success amidst fierce competition.
“People should look forward to the golden age and don’t be fearful,” he advised.
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