Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BRUNEI ended their six-year wait for a gold medal at the SEA Games after wushu athlete Mohammad Adi Salihin Roslan finished at the top of the podium in the men's nandao/nangun combined event today.
He took an overnight lead after notching 9.64 points in the nandao event yesterday and tallied the same score in the nangun event this morning to capture the Sultanate's first gold medal since 2013 when the pair of Faustina Woo Wai Sii and Lee YingShi won the women's duilian event in Myanmar.
Indonesia's Harris Horatius took the runner-up spot while Vietnam's Pham Ngoc Khanh took home the bronze at the World Trade Centre in Manila.
Mohammad Adi never saw it coming and was ecstatic to win the gold.
"Alhamdulillah, I'm humbly grateful in the unexpected win to get gold in the competition," said Mohammad Adi in an interview with BruSports News after the triumph.
"I feel proud and shed tears of joy. Thank you so much especially to my coach and my team for the non-stop support from the beginning as well as the Brunei Wushu Federation.
"I would also like to convey my thanks to our beloved Duli Pengiran Bendahara (HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah), (YAM) Pengiran Bini (Hjh Faizah Pg Nasir) and (YAM) Pengiran Anak 'Aliiyah (Amalul Bulqiah) for being there for us," he added.
National wushu coach Li Hui was proud of his athlete's achievement and felt that the hard work finally paid off.
"Our dreams finally came true as we haven't won a gold medal since 2013," said Li Hui.
"I feel very touched and proud to be able to get such a result. It wasn't easy as the coaches and athletes have put in a lot of hard work and sacrifices and now it has finally paid off.
"Thinking about it, I've been in Brunei for 13 years and we started from zero and took it one step at a time. It was difficult but it is all worth it," he added.
"We will continue to work hard for our next target and to try get more medals for Brunei.
"We also want to thank the Brunei Olympic Council, HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah and his family as they have been really supportive towards us. We are also grateful to the ministry, wushu federation as well as the parents," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Hosea Wong bagged his second medal at the biennial Games after finishing third in the men's taijijian event.
