Photos show His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah compete during the 4-6 Goals event of the Polo Competition in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). PHOTOS: INFOFOTO
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar in action. PHOTO: INFOFOTO
The Brunei polo team cruised to a 9-2 win against Indonesia in the preliminary round of the 4-6 Goals event of the Polo Competition in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) on Monday afternoon at the VS Sports Club and Polo Siam Park, Samut Prakan in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Brunei polo team comprised His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar and Farid Abdullah.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, SEA Games Federation Honorary Life President and President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, witnessed the game.
Brunei’s polo team coach Guillermo Willington Arias commented, “In the first chukka, Brunei won the first throw in, then Farid turns, with the Brunei team pushing up the field, receiving a penalty of 30 yards, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar hit the ball straight through to make it 1-0 for Brunei. Indonesia attacked well, but the ball just went wide. It was a great play between Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, but Indonesia defended well and won a foul from the spot. A near side field goal by Indonesia levelled the score 1-1.”
In the next play, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen defended well and won the possession. Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar then sent the ball up the field to Farid, displaying great teamwork. The whistle went spot hit to Indonesia around the half way mark. Indonesia attacked from the hit but the ball was just wide to the left, hit in for Brunei. The Brunei team then made progress up the field and had a penalty of 30 yards. Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar scored to regain the lead 2-1 for Brunei.
The second chukka started with Brunei winning the throw, creating space for the first field goal scored by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar to extend Brunei’s lead to 3-1. Brunei then won the throw, showing great team work bringing the ball up the field. His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen won a penalty of 30 yards, while Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar scored to lead 4-1.
The Brunei team turned on the pressure and scored again through Farid to further extend the lead to 5-1. Farid scored again in the next play to put Brunei lead 6-1 after great teamwork. With six minutes left in the second chukka, Indonesia won the throw in and winning a 30 yard penalty to score, bringing the gap to 6-2.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen won an instrumental foul to halt an attack from Indonesia. The spot hit from the middle by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar was passed to His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, who then got the ball to Farid, who shot at the goal, but the whistle went before the ball went over the goal line. The game then started from a throw near the backline, giving Brunei a huge chance to keep the pressure on.
In the third chukka, Indonesia won the throw and moved out of the danger zone, making it beyond the half way. Brunei defended well, turning defence to attack with Farid making a shot on goal on the near side, then the whistle went and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar scored the penalty to make it 7-2, marking Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar’s fourth goal of the match. Brunei then won the throw in a great attack and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen scored His Royal Highness’ first goal of the game to extend the lead to 8-2.
The fourth chukka started with a spot hit, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar sent the ball up, finding space to the left where His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen won a foul for another spot hit for the team.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar found His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen who shot just left, hitting in for Indonesia but Brunei put huge pressure and Indonesia fouled, giving Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar another 60 yard penalty. Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar’s great shot went through the middle to extend the lead to 9-2. Indonesia started an attack from the throw in, but Farid controlled well and saved the day by winning a spot foul for Brunei.
BEYOND THE POLO FIELD
Meanwhile, in the swimming event, national swimmer Joel Ling Thai Yu finished ninth in the 200-metre backstroke category, with a time of 2.11.41 and failed to qualify to the next stage.
The sepak takraw team – comprising Zatie Hidayat bin Saidi, Mohammad Faiz Fikri bin Haji Lamit, Mohammad Asyraf bin Abdullah, Mohamad Asrul, Md Asllyi bin Haji Asmali, Mohamad Noorazlan bin Rosli, Abdul Raziq Waqiuddin bin Abdul Rahman – a 2-1 won against Singapore in the Preliminary Quadrant round.
National weightlifter Muhammad bin Haji Kamit finished sixth in the men’s 79-kilogramme (kg) category, lifting a total of 269kg (118kg in the clean and 151kg in the clean and jerk).
The national netball team lost to the Philippines in an intense group stage match, with a score of 48-51. – JAMES KON
