| James Kon & Ishan Ibrahim |
BRUNEI Darussalam’s wushu athletes left the country yesterday as the first Brunei contingent to head to 19th Sukma Games 2018 that will take place in Perak from September 12-22.
Led by coaches Li Hui and Zhao Chunjie and Assistant Coach/Secretariat Officer Md Hasnan bin Haji Haris , the wushu athletes include Mohammad Adi Salihin bin Roslan (Nan Quan, Nan Dao and Nangun events), Majdurano Joel bin Majallah Sain (Nan Quan and Nangun), Hosea Wong Zheng Yu (Taiji quan and Taiji Jian), Basma Lachkar (Taiji quan and Taiji jian) and Ang Guat Lian (Taiji quan and Taiji jian).
National coach Li Hui said the Wushu team is determined to do well in the 19th Sukma Games.
“The most important thing is to train the athletes’ game experience and prepare for next year’s Southeast Asian Games. If athletes do well in the game, they will be able to collect medals for the country.”
Basma Lachkar, who recently competed in the Asian Games in Jakarta, drew praise from the coach.
He said she did well in the earlier round in the Taiji quan event at the Asian Games, but she suffered from nerves in her next bout that made her dropped out from medal contention.
Li Hui said he hoped she will fare better this time and added that the 15-year-old is one of the athletes who could win a medal for the country.
In response, Basma Lachkar admitted that she did feel nervous at the Asian Games, but said that she has learned from the experience and is determined to conquer her nerves and win honours for Brunei Darussalam.
Acting Deputy Director of Youth and Sports Mariam binti Ulat was present at the Brunei International Airport to bid the wushu athletes farewell.
This year, Brunei Darussalam will be sending a contingent comprising 34 athletes and 21 officers to the 19th Sukma to compete in nine sporting events namely lawn bowling, cycling, sailing, athletic, pencak silat, taekwando, 10-pin bowling, karate-do and wushu.