Bandar Seri Begawan - HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, visited the karate and silat exponents bound for the SEA Games at the Menglait Sports Complex yesterday.
HRH Prince Sufri was welcomed at the complex by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Major General (R) Dato Hj Awg Mohammad Hj Daud and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Paduka Hj Jemat Hj Ampal.
The silat exponents gave a demonstration of their skills to HRH Prince Sufri which includes sparring and pattern capabilities. Of note was a demonstration by Norleyermah Hj Raya, a female exponent who performed an unarmed demonstration followed by a demonstration using a `parang`.
Brunei will be represented by three silat exponents at the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand.
Team manager Pg Hj Abd Karim said Norleyermah has the best chance of getting medal in the pattern category. The other two will be competing in the sparring category.
"Based on their previous competitions and tryouts locally and internationally, (and with their increase in the level of expertise), we have a good chance of getting medals," Pg Hj Abd Karim added.
HRH Prince Sufri also had a closer look at the weapons used by the silat exponents.
Meanwhile, Brunei will be represented by two female and 10 male karatekas competing in the kumite (fighting or sparring) and kata (pattern) events.
The karate team manager Hj Malai Mohd bin Hj Malai Othman briefed HRHPrince Sufri on the aspects of karate including techniques and safety gears.
"We started training since last year and the training has intensified this year. We are confident of getting medals," Hj Malai Mohd said.
Throughout the visit, HRH Prince Sufri showed great interest in the welfare of the athletes and their training programme.
Source: www.brudirect.com (24 November 2007)
