Brunei takraw team (foreground)
in action against Thailand at the
26th SEA Games at the
Jakabaring Promotion Centre in
Palembang, Indonesia,
yesterday. Picture: Infofoto

The world champions were just too good for Brunei.

The Sultanate were swept aside 3-0 (15-10, 15-5, 15-3) by Thailand in the Men's Regu of the Sepak Takraw event of the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Jakabaring Promotion Centre in Palembang, Indonesia, yesterday.

The Thais were just better in every aspect. Their service game was top notch and they covered the court brilliantly to emerge victorious.

Despite the loss, national sepak takraw coach Ittiphol Chomchaissak was not too disappointed as his team had given their best against the very best in the world.

"We played against the champions of the world and it was always a difficult task. We just couldn't stop them but we're not too far away in terms of standards," said Ittiphol in an interview with The Brunei Times after the defeat yesterday.

"Their players were bigger and more deadly on each attack, but now we are just looking forward to our next game against Indonesia," he added.

The Regu team of captain Md Shukri Jaineh, Ismail Ang, Nur Alimin Sungoh, Abdul Amin Mahari and Marzuki Munap still have a good chance to progress to the semi-finals of the competition should they beat hosts Indonesia at 11.30am today.

Asked about their chances of beating Indonesia, Ittiphol replied: "We have a 50-50 chance, but we know it won't be easy with the crowd (at the venue here) since they are the hosts.

"But our players are no pushovers and they have become stronger mentally. But we must improve ourselves and correct our mistakes from today (Saturday) especially on killing (scoring)," added the 44-year-old coach.

"I just hope the players will be in their top form and hopefully we can win the game," continued the Thai.

Over at the Petanque Pitch of the Jakabaring Sports Complex, Brunei's Mazlan Hj Yahya struggled in the men's singles winning only one of his four matches competed in the round-robin format yesterday.

He was tasked with overcoming strong opposition from the region.

Mazlan had the most difficult of starts having to go up against Thailand's Supan Thongphoo in the first game which he lost 13-5.

His second match saw him lose 13-4 to Danh Sa Ph of Vietnam and his difficult schedule continued with a 13-4 defeat to Laos' Douangmisy Kecundang.

The Bruneian kept his hopes alive on making it to the next round with a 13-8 victory over Indonesia's Ahmad Kaul, but then crashed 13-8 to the Philippines' Michael Corporal.

Mazlan still stands a chance to making it into the next round should he win both his matches today.

But, it will be a tall order especially since he will have to overcome the 25th SEA Games gold medallist Sok Chan M of Cambodia in his second match.

He will first take on Ibrahim of Malaysia at 9am.

Courtesy from Brunei Times