| Fadhil Yunus |
THE Brunei Darussalam Sports Schools Council (MSSSBD) contingent arrived home to a hero’s welcome yesterday from their participation at the 11th ASEAN Schools Games held in Semarang, Indonesia from July 17 to 25.
Acting Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh greeted the contingent upon arrival at the Brunei International Airport.
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Aliuddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman and Acting Director of Schools at the Department of Schools, MoE Zainal Abidin bin Haji Kepli were also present.
MSSSBD pencak silat exponent Mohd Mahadir @ Danish Naqiuddin bin Mahmud bagged a silver medal in the male artistic single’s category after accumulating 447 points in the final round.
Mohd Mahadir expressed his hopes of joining more competitions in the future.
“I felt proud of winning the silver medal and I will continue my battle as a pencak silat exponent for Brunei Darussalam,” said Mohd Mahadir in an interview with the Bulletin yesterday.
He also expressed his interest of joining regional competitions in the future, with the next edition of the ASEAN Schools Games in the Philippines already in his radar.
Mohd Mahadir, who has practised the sport competitively in the last three years, shared that Malaysia and Indonesia provided the main threat in the competition.
During the 800m freestyle event of the competition, MSSSBD swimmer Aaron Ang broke the national record after he notched a time of 9:19.70s, eclipsing the old mark of 9:29.82s previously held by Nathaniel Nikles on April 20, 2014.
Three swimmers recorded their personal bests – Danish Shah, Alvin Bong Jia Lok and Aaron Ang.
MSSSBD swimmer Ashley Chai reached the final round of the 200m backstroke event while in the field of athletics, two sprinters representing MSSSBD secured a berth in the 100m, 200m and 800m events.
