Caption: Basma Lachkar (L) on the podium with her silver medal from the women's taijiquan event.
Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
THE national wushu team produced an excellent performance on the final day competition at the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur yesterday delivering one silver and one bronze medals for the country.
Basma Lachkar, who is the youngest Bruneian athlete at the Games at 14 years old, was the Sultanate's top performer at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) impressing the judges to record 9.54 points in the taijiquan event.
She only finished second to Agatha Chrystenzen Wong from Philippines, who managed 9.66 points. Ho Lin Ying of Singapore came in third place with 9.44 points.
Another national member Ang Guat Lin also competed in the event and placed sixth.
Meanwhile, the bronze medal was courtesy of Md Sufi Shayiran Roslan in the nanquan event where he recorded 9.65 points to finish behind Mun Hua Ho from Malaysia and Quoc Khanh Pham of Vietnam respectively
His younger brother Mohammad Adi Salihin Roslan pulled out of the event due to injury.
Basma Lachkar in action during the women's taijiquan event.
Basma paid tribute to the people that made it possible for her to finish on the podium.
"I've trained in China for one month and I only trained for a day in Brunei after returning and we're off again to KL for the SEA Games," said Basma in an interview with BruSports News when contacted yesterday.
"I was very nervous because this is my first time at the SEA Games and being only 14 years old but I've done by best during the competition.
"I'm very thankful to (national wushu) coach Li Hui and coach Zhao Chun Jie for training me for the taiji events," she added.
"My coach always tell me 'no pain, no gain' and from wushu I've really learned a lot," continued the Brunei Darussalam Sports School student.
Md Sufi Shayiran Roslan (R) on the podium after winning bronze in the men's changquan event.
Sufi, the eldest of the trio of brothers representing the Sultanate at the Games, felt that the tournament’s standard was on another level this year.
“It’s a tough competition this year but I tried my best and the whole team did their best too,” said Sufi.
“I am glad that I won the bronze and finally be able to stand among the best athletes in this region as most of them have more experience than me.
“I would like to thank everyone who supported me especially my family, coaches and the government of Brunei Darussalam for giving me this opportunity to compete. Now I will go home and train harder to prepare for the next SEA Games,” he added.
Md Sufi Shayiran Roslan in action during the changquan event.
Wushu team manager Calvin Ang was impressed with the performance of his charges at the competition particularly with Basma and Sufi.
“She was tired, hungry and sleepy before her event but I am very happy with the result,” said Ang.
“She trained very hard for this and we are very pleased with her overall performance.
“As this is her first SEA Games, we hope that she can maintain the momentum for the future and I am sure with enough international competitions under her belt, she will grow to be a more confident athlete,” he added.
“Sufi competed with 14 athletes in the event and he managed to maintain his posture and perform all the movements with good control and speed,” concluded Ang.
