The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awang Halbi Hj Mohd Yusof (L) presenting national wushu coach Li Hui with his reward at the Green Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday. Picture: BT/Fazizul Haqimie
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awang Halbi Hj Mohd Yusof (L) presenting national fencer Mohd Hardiwan Shah Rahim with his reward at the Green Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday. Picture: BT/Fazizul Haqimie
FOUR national sports associations received awards for their achievements at two tournaments contested in the Philippines last year and in 2014.
Eleven athletes, five coaches and four assistant coaches were awarded a total of $10,275 during the Excellence Incentive Reward Scheme (SPKS) ceremony at the Green Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday. The Brunei Darussalam Sepak Takraw Association (PESTABARU) topped the money list after receiving a total of $3,625 after the country’s men’s regu team won bronze medal at the 6th ASEAN Schools Games held in Marikina, Philippines in December 2014.
The Brunei Darussalam Fencing Federation (BDFF) were awarded $3,500 following their performance at the Southeast Asia Pacific Fencing Championships & ASEAN Fencing Championships (Juniors and Cadets) in Pasag City last year, where they claimed three bronze medals. The Brunei Darussalam Athletics Federation (BDAF) and the Wushu Federation of Brunei Darussalam (WFBD) received $1,650 and $1,500 respectively for their achievements at the 6th ASEAN Schools Games.
Md Noor Firdaus Ar-Rashid Hj Md Idris won a silver medal in the 200m event while in wushu, Mohd Sufi Shayiran Roslan and Ang Guat Lian bagged a bronze medal each in their respective events. The biggest individual winner yesterday was Mohd Hardiwan Shah Rahim who brought home $1,500 for winning two bronze medals (men’s sabre junior and men’s team sabre junior) at the Southeast Asia Pacific Fencing Championships & ASEAN Fencing Championships (Juniors and Cadets).
“I am very happy to receive the reward today (yesterday) and I feel that now all the sacrifices are worth it and all the hard work has finally paid off,” said Mohd Hardiwan in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday. “I hope to join more competitions in the future. There is another tournament to be held in Indonesia in May, the 2016 Indonesia Fencing Open Tournament, and we are training for that and hope to get sponsors to finance our trip there,” added the 19-year-old.
Md Noor Firdaus Ar-Rashid, 19, who received $1,000 for winning silver at the 6th ASEAN Schools Games, said that the reward will encourage him to work harder in the future. “Alhamdulillah, I am very thankful for the award that has been given today. I received $1000 and I hope that this can help me to achieve bigger dreams and achievements and as well as to improve myself from time to time,” he said. “My long term target is to take part in the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games,” he added.
Present to hand out the rewards to the recipients was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awang Halbi Hj Mohd Yusof.
