National fencer Mohammad Yunos Hj Hamid (L) in action at the Guangzhou Asian Games in China last month. Pictures: BT
48 Bruneians to participate in SEA Fencing Federation Championship to be held in Berakas from tomorrow
Forty-eight fencers will fly the flag for the Sultanate at the 10th Southeast Asian (SEA) Fencing Federation Championship which will be held at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas from tomorrow to Dec 18.
Divided into two teams, the Bruneians will do battle with 250 competitors from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia.
Despite the tough competition, national fencing coach Hj Zainoren Hj Mohd Yusof believes Brunei have a good chance to win medals.
"Though we are expecting some tough competition from the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, the athletes have been training since early this year especially for this tournament so it looks good for us," said the national coach when met yesterday.
"During the recently-concluded Asian Games (in Guangzhou, China), one of my athletes was even able to defeat the 2005 SEA Games gold medallist," added Hj Zainoren.
Mohammad Yunos will also
represent Brunei at this week's
SEA Fencing Federation
Championship. Pictures: BT
The coach was referring to the Sultanate's lone fencer in Guangzhou, Mohammad Yunos Hj Hamid, who beat Mendoza Walbert in the preliminary stages of the men's individual sabre event.
Mohammad Yunos's 5-4 win over the Filipino was his only triumph in the four-match pool. However his index (number of victories/ number of matches) of 0.250 placed him 12th overall to qualify for the next round.
The 2007 Sea Games bronze medallist easily defeated his second round opponent Alshamlan KMHS, triumphing 15-7 over the Kuwait national before his exit in the Last 16 at the hands of eventual Asian Games gold medal winner Gu Bon Gil of South Korea.
Hj Zainoren yesterday confirmed that the 26-year-old athlete will participate in the Brunei meet, but refused to name the other Brunei fencers selected for the tournament.
Three categories will be contested in the 11-day tournament: junior (Under-21 years old), cadet (Under-17 years old) and open.
First to be contested is the junior category from Dec 9-12, followed by cadet (Dec 13-14) and, saving the best for last, the open category from Dec 15-18.
Events to be featured range from individual epee, team epee, foil and sabre for both men and women in all three categories.
Matches start at 9am, with the prize presentation ceremony slated for 5pm throughout the competition.
This is the third time Brunei is hosting the biennial tournament. The Sultanate previously hosted the 7th SEAFF Championship in 2005 and the 9th SEAFF Championship in 2008.
The 7th SEAFF Championship was supposed to be held in 2004, but was postponed to 2005 due to unforeseen circumstances.
Courtesy from Brunei Times
