It was not the most eventful and successful year for the national karate team, but they get their job done.
Despite failing to better their record of one silver and two bronze medals at the previous Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia two years ago, the national karate team however should be credited for constantly bringing home medals for the country.
This year, the team of eight karatekas bagged two medals, one silver and one bronze at the recently concluded 27th edition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar.
Muhd Fida'iy Sanif delivered on the silver medal after losing 8-6 to Ramon Antonino Franco of the Philippines in the men's under 55kg kumite on Saturday.
The bronze medal was courtesy of Mairul Muhammad after edging Myanmar's San Toe in the repechage of the men's under 60kg kumite after both were deadlocked at 3-3 in regulation time.
Speaking to The Brunei Times yesterday, national karate coach Hj Okhida Simangasing shared his thoughts on the performances.
"In everything we do, we must have a goal and target... and in order to achieve it, we must be sincere and true to ourselves," said Hj Okhida.
"The reason why karate is always producing medals for the country is because of their sincerity to train very hard throughout the year," he said.
Myanmar was the country's only second overseas outing in two years with the other outing being the the 3rd Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) in Palembang, Indonesia in September.
Muhammad Fida'iy was stopped by Malaysia's Senthil Kumaran Silvarajoo 7-6 in the first round (round-of-16) of the men's Under 60kg kumite event.
Meanwhile, his older brother Mohammad Fadilah made an early exit in the tournament after losing his first match in the round-of-32 to Bahrain's Mohamed Ehmood Humood Alabd Alshaikh 6-0.
"We always analyse our weaknesses after big tournaments as I see it as one way for us to keep improving," stressed the Indonesian, who believe that the country will be able to produce champions in near future.
"I believe that the athletes that we have now are the best and they must believe in themselves.
"We have reached finals in two consecutive years in the SEA Games, they have the potential to be the champions," he added.
