BRUNEI were unable to add more medals to their tally during yesterday’s second day of the 18th Malaysian Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak.
The country’s only competitor yesterday, Mohd Ameerul Solehen Mohd Kassim, lost to eventual champion Amirul Danial Samsudin from Federal Territories in the opening round of the welterweight (over 74kg and not exceeding 80kg) kyorugi event. Amirul Danial went on to win the event after defeating Muhd Amirul Juwanda of Sarawak in the final at the Stadium Perpaduan, Petrajaya in Kuching.
Brunei got their campaign off to a good start on Tuesday when the Hijium siblings bagged two taekwondo bronze medals in poomsae events. Hyde Nachman Hijium won the Sultanate’s first bronze in the men’s poomsae individual event after scoring 7.04 points. Hyde’s sister Hyde Nathania Hijium also got on the podium in the women’s poomsae individual after notching 7.11 points to claim bronze.
Meanwhile, the duo also teamed up for the mix pair event and narrowly missed out on another bronze medal when they were tied with Lay Yi Chong and Cheong Pui Kei of Negri Sembilan for the joint bronze after scoring a 6.96 points, but the latter took the medal after scoring better for the taegeuk 8.
Brunei will continue their campaign in taekwondo today with Ahmad Izzat Ahsanuddin Sofian competing against Yong Siong How of Penang in the featherweight (over 63kg and not exceeding 68kg) event.
Meanwhile, Cynthia Christine Chin Yee Tsien will take on Nurul Asyhqin Azmi, also from Penang, in the bantamweight (over 49kg and not exceeding 53kg) event.
Brunei is competing in nine of the 24 sports on offer — athletics, cycling, golf, karatedo, pencak silat, swimming, taekwondo, ten-pin bowling and wushu.
The Games officially kick off with the opening ceremony at the Sarawak Stadium in Kuching on Saturday.
