Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BRUNEI will return with two bronze medals from the 19th World Pencak Silat Championships 2022 in Melaka, Malaysia.
Both medals came from the men's and women's regu events at the 26th - 31st July competition.
In the men's category, the team of Mohd Ali Saifullah Abdullah Mohd Suaimi, Mohd Hazim Ramliee and Muhd Haziq Aqwa Muhd Iman Safwan had beaten the Philippines in the quarter-finals.
They then fell to Indonesia in the last-four to secure the joint-bronze medal.
On the other hand, the trio of Anisah Najihah Abdullah, Nur Wasiqah Aziemah Rosihan and Norleyermah Hj Raya took down Thailand in the last-eight before succumbing to Singapore in the semi-finals.
"We could have done better but luck wasn't on our side but we had already given our very best during the semi-finals," said Anisah in an interview with BruSports News on Saturday.
"It has been a great honour to represent Brunei and we will train harder and bounce back stronger," she added.
This is only the second appearance for the trio as a team after winning silver at the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam.
Anisah had also won the bronze at the last edition of the competition in 2018 together with Qistina Athirah Zainal and Nur Najihah Abdul Hamid.
When asked on what's next for the team, Anisah replied: "We'll come back to Brunei and prepare for the annual Hari Keputeraan tournament which will be held in the middle of August.
"Internationally, we're looking forward to come back stronger for the SEA Games in Cambodia next year," she added.
Anisah went on to thank the Department of Youth and Sports and the Bruneian Darussalam National Pencak Silat Federation (PERSIB) for the opportunity given to represent the country at the world meet.
Abdul Rahman Hj Bujang Ahmad and Muhammad Amirul Akid Hj Nordin are the other two Bruneians at the meet as they contested in the tanding events.
