Caption: (From Left) Hardiwan Shah Rahim, national fencing coach Rocky Poerawinata and Hjh Anis Sabrina Hj Yahya pose for a photo at the 1st ASEAN University Fencing Championship. Picture: Courtesy of BDFF.
Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BRUNEI bagged one silver and one bronze medals on the opening day of the 1st ASEAN University Fencing Championship at the Nilai University, Malaysia yesterday.
Hjh Anis Sabrina Hj Yahya, contesting under the banner of Cosmopolitan College, won the silver medal from the individual women's foil event while Hardiwan Shah Rahim of Kemuda Institute delivered the bronze in the individual men's sabre event.
Hjh Anis ranked second after the first round and edged Patricia Beatriz Paulo of Ateneo De Manila University (The Philippines) 15-14 in the knockout stage to advance to the final.
She then settled for the runner-up spot after dropping 15-7 against Ploypailin Thongchampa of Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) in the title decider.
Caption: Hjh Anis Sabrina Hj Yahya (L) on the podium after winning silver in the individual women's epee event. Picture: Courtesy of BDFF
On the other hand, Hardiwan was undefeated in the first round and triumphed 15-5 against compatriot Aafie Hapizan to move into the last-four.
He was then stopped in his tracks 15-13 in the semi-finals to take the joint-bronze medal.
National fencing coach Rocky Poerawinata was proud of his charges for their showing.
"We are very thankful with the results of the fencers today (Friday). The cooperation from all parties particularly Brunei Darussalam Fencing Federation (BDFF), JBS, coaches, SMRC and institutions," said Rocky in a press statement.
"The maximum effort from the fencers during training is also a factor towards this achievement.
"Hopefully we will be given more opportunities to compete to ensure the fencers will be able to develop further," he added.
Captain (U) Nashriq Moksin, the secretary general of BDFF, also expressed his delight with the results.
"I'm delighted with the achievement today. The fencers/students have been consistent during training for the past two years and they fully deserve the medals today," said Nashriq.
The competition resumes today with the individual men's epee event.
