Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
THE national wushu team delivered two silver medals on the first day of competition at the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines on Sunday.
Basma Lachkar bagged the first silver in the women’s taijiquan event after recording 9.55 points at the World Trade Centre in Pasay, Metro Manila.
The 16-year-old, who also won silver in the same event two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, only finished second to defending champion Agatha Chrystenz of the Philippines with 9.67 point.
Vietnam’s Thi Minh Huyen completed the podium just 0.02 points behind.
On the other hand, Hosea Wong finished in the runner-up spot in the men’s taijiquan event for Brunei’s second silver with his score of 9.59 points finishing behind Malaysia’s Loh Choon How, who scored 9.68 points.
Danial Latawan of the Philippines won the bronze 0.03 points back.
National wushu coach Li Hui was ecstatic to watch his charges finish on the podium.
“I’m thrilled and happy especially that we have sent a young team to compete. I’m delighted with their performance,” said Li Hui in an interview with BruSports News today.
”At 16 years old, both our athletes were the youngest competitors for their events.
“I also want to credit assistant coach Zhao Chun Jie because she has put in a lot of work to train them and help them grow. The athletes have really improved a lot,” he added.
The wushu team are also in a good position to win a gold medal in the men’s nandao & nangun combined event.
Mohammad Adi Salihin Roslan is currently in the lead after notching 9.64 points in the men’s nandao event just 0.01 ahead of Vietnam’s Pham Quoc Khanh and Indonesia’s Harris Horatius.
He will see action again today in the nangun event - with the combined score to determine the winner.
Meanwhile, the national polo team bagged the bronze medal after a come from behind 5-4 win over Indonesia in the third-place playoff.
Brunei were trailing 2-4 at halftime before holding their opponents scoreless enroute to victory.
The national netball team will also finish with a bronze medal - for the third straight edition of the Games - after a 64-40 defeat at the hands of defending champions Malaysia in the semi-finals.
