Shuttlers in action during their National Badminton Championship Brunei Darussalam 2014 match last night. 32 matches were played on the first day of the tournament. BT/ Syarif Rasani
Thirty-two matches kicked off on the first day of the National Badminton Championship Brunei Darussalam 2014 yesterday.
The competition commenced with nineteen first round knock-out stages in the men's open doubles.
Saiful Rizal Othman who teamed up with his brother Hasli Othman to defeat Shamsul Zainal Abidin and Khairul Fakhry Hj Yaakub 13-21, 21-18, 21-19 said he did not expect to make it to the next round.
"It's been a long time since I last played actually, about three months," Saiful told The Brunei Times following his match.
"My brother wanted to join the tournament so I joined with him.
"To be honest I didn't think of winning but now I will try my best and my brother will be there to support me," he said.
"Our opponents were really good and I think they were more experienced than us.
"I've been playing since I was 12. When I was in secondary school I joined the scheme and it's been 20 years since I first started," added Saiful who travelled from Temburong to take part in the competition.
Thirteen clashes then took place in the men's open singles.
The championships other categories that will be played are the women's singles, women's doubles, men's veteran (born before 1964), boys' singles (18 years and below), boys' doubles and girls singles.
There will be no matches played today but action will resume tomorrow leading up to Wednesday's final rounds.
All categories except for the boys' doubles will get their chance to play when the tournament continues tomorrow at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
The tournament attracted a total of 356 players from across the nation. The large turnout will aid the cause of tournament organisers Brunei National Badminton Association which is to identify and select the local players with most potential to represent the Sultanate for the upcoming Brunei International Challenge scheduled for Nov 18-23.
The competition was open to all citizens of Brunei who hold either a yellow or purple identity card.
