MOHD Aiman Abdullah lived up to promise in the 3rd Borneo Games tennis competition when he won silver in the men's open singles yesterday.

Losing 6-3, 6-0 to East Kalimantan's Mohd Faisal Aidil Sukimin at the National Tennis Centre at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas, the 17

- year-old national player said he did not even expect to reach the final. "I just worked hard like everyone else," said Aiman yesterday.

"I could not have done it without coach (national coach Fan Po Hoa). This medal is for him.

"If I am not mistaken coach said the goal was to reach the semi-finals," he added.

Though he surpassed expectation by reaching the championship match, Aiman said that was the best he could do.

According to Aiman, Mohd Faisal was ranked 27th in the world as a junior and is a member of the Indonesian Davis Cup squad.

"I think I did my best, he was just a lot more experienced than me," said Aiman.

"I was 4-0 down in the first set but came back, but he was just too strong in the second set and he came up with many brilliant shots.

"His forehand is also very strong," he added.

He also said he would like to thank fellow national tennis player Chua Peng Wei and the Brunei Darussalam Tennis Association (BDTA) for believing in him.

Aiman reached the final after beating Central Kalimantan's Andi Prawono Sugiamto 6-2, 6-0 while Mohd Faisal progressed by defeating Central Kalimantan's Panji Bana Sugiamto 6-4, 6-4.

Competing in the men's team event with Matthew Bukit, the duo fell to Central Kalimantan 4-1 and to East Kalimantan 5-0.

They narrowly lost to Sarawak 3-2 in their final game which Aiman thought they could have won and finished with bronze.

The result of the third category, the veterans' team event, could not be obtained.

Ranked 2,085 on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior circuit, Aiman said he had no concrete plans yet except for putting in a lot of hard work in the gym.

"I am not going to take a break in December, I'll be going to the gym and hoping that I can compete in the men's circuit (through a wildcard)," he added.

Aiman, Asher Khan and Muhaimin Awang won bronze in the junior team event in the last edition of the Borneo Games in Kuching two years ago.

Courtesy from Brunei Times