BY James Kon

Brunei is sending a 22-member contingent to compete in three events – para athletics, para badminton and para swimming – for the 11th ASEAN Para Games in Solo, Indonesia from July 30 to August 6.

Abdul Aiman bin Zaini, Alihan bin Muda, Hirdan bin Haji Abdul Kadir, John Vianni anak Chandau, Raduan bin Haji Mataha, Shari bin Haji Juma’at, Zainul Wardi bin Haji Tarip, Dayangku Nurul Hida Elenna binti Pengiran Haji Hamlin and Nor Hensan binti Haji Mataha will be competing in para athletics, while Awangku Muhd Amirul Fa’iq bin Pengiran Zali, Haslan bin Matasan and Haji Mohd Rudy Izman bin Haji Badar will compete in para badminton with Muhammad Danial Hakim Harjimmey competing in para swimming.

The Brunei contingent comprises 13 athletes and nine officials who received the national flag at a national flag handing over ceremony at the Brunei International Airport on Tuesday.

Permanent Secretary (Sports) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud handed over the flag to Chef de Mission of Brunei Contingent to 11th ASEAN Para Games Haji Ali Yusri bin Haji Abdul Ghafor.

Haji Ali Yusri said, “The athletes have been training for many years and have represented the country in other competitions. However, due to COVID-19, they were not able to compete in any events. Alhamdulillah, our athletes will be representing the country in the 11th ASEAN Para Games. In preparation, they have been in training for six months.”

Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Dr Sujatmiko, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretary as well as senior officials from the MCYS were also present.

Brunei first joined the ASEAN Para Games in 2001 and to date has collected 36 gold medals, 40 silver medals and 55 bronze medals. The country’s best achievement was in 2009 in Kuala Lumpur where nine gold, five silvers and seven bronze were obtained.

The last time Brunei Darussalam competed at the ASEAN Para Games was in 2017 in Malaysia where National Para Athletes won two gold, six silver and six bronze.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin