| Fadhil Yunus |
HER Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman attended the third and final day of the 27th Brunei Age Group Swimming Championships at the Swimming Pool of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas yesterday.
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 both competed at the event.
Also present were Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda Muhammad Aiman ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Faathimah Az-Zahraa’ Raihaanul Bolkiah binti Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah, performing under the banner of Hammerheads Swimming Club, bagged a gold medal in the girls’ eight years old 50 LC (Long Course) metre backstroke event with a time of 54.06s.
Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim, who represented Peak Performance Swim Club, competed in the boys 12-13 years old 100m breaststroke and 50m backstroke.
The swimming meet also saw new national records broken by Muhammad Isa bin Ahmad in the 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke, and Ashley Chai in the 100m backstroke.
Muhammad Isa smashed the new national record in the 100m breaststroke with a revised time of 1:06:40s, eclipsing a six-year record he accomplished in November 2013.
Muhammad Isa also broke his national record in the 50m breaststroke with a new time of 30.07s, bettering his previous mark of 30.51s.
Ashley Chai set a new national record in the 100m backstroke with an improved time of 1:12:57s, eclipsing a time of 1:12:60s previously achieved by Nur Hamizah Ahmad. Ashley’s new national record is also a new age group record.
There were also individual awards in recognition of the swimmer’s excellence for both boys and girls in various categories.
Brunei Speed Swimming Club swimmer Eric Boon Cheng Liang asserted his dominance in the competition after accumulating 15 gold medals and brought back home the best boy for 14-15 years old award.
Kelab Renang Pujut Miri’s Jed Jayden Ng Ka Hey was awarded the best boy for nine years old following his exploits which saw him storm to an impressive haul of 10 gold and one silver medals.
Peak Performance Swim Club’s Zeke Chan was named the best boy for 12-13 years old after accumulating eight gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
For best boy in the 10-11 years old category, Gymkhana Club Miri’s Deven Max Carroll amassed seven gold and six silver medals.
Other best boy awards recipients included Gymkhana’s Nigel Tay Yuyi for 16-18 years old, Miri Amateur Swimming Club (MASA)’s Ethren Ethaneal Lim Chukn for eight years old and Jerudong Swimming Club’s Henry Bell for seven years old.
Peak Performance Swim Club swimmer Hayley Wong was the most decorated performer in her division with a haul of 11 gold and three silver medals, as well as a well-deserving recipient of the best girl for 10-11 years old award.
Similarly, Hayley’s teammate Kayleigh Ang also enjoyed vast success with 10 gold and two silver medals, a feat which earned her the best girl for nine years old award.
Peak Performance Swim Club’s Ashley Chai scooped the best girl for 16-18 years old award after accumulating eight gold medals while her teammate Andra Chai took home the best girl award for 14-15 years old with four gold, four silver and one bronze medals.
Five of the seven best girl winners performed under the banner of Peak Performance Swim Club and swimmer Kayley Goh was part of the success in the 12-13 years old category after collecting six gold and seven silver medals.
Other best girl winners included Kelab Renang Pujut Miri’s Refaalys binti Md Raziq Steven for seven years old and Indonesia’s Josephine Miracle Sutis Nu for eight years old.
Peak Performance Swim Club topped the overall medal tally with 61 gold, 51 silver and 39 bronze medals followed by Brunei Speed Swimming Club in second place with 23 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals while Hammerheads Swimming Club finished in third place with 19 gold, 40 silver and 31 bronze medals.
Meanwhile, nine national age group records were also set with Danniel Chan of Peak Performance Swim Club setting the benchmark in the 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle events for eight-year-olds. Mohammad Adrian Mirza bin Mohammad Amin of Brunei Speed Swimming Club recorded a new record in the 100m backstroke event.
The other national age group record breakers were Hayley Wong in the 200m butterfly for 10-11 years old, Breanna Lee Le Er in the 100m butterfly for 12-13 years old, Emma Yusuf in the 50m breaststroke for 14-15 years old and Ashley Chai in the 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke event for 16-18 years old.
Organised by the Brunei Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) with the support of the Department of Youth and Sports, the three-day long competition attracted 17 clubs/teams, with six overseas clubs from the Philippines, Miri (Malaysia) and Indonesia, and a total of 350 registered swimmers.