The national sepak takraw team pose for a group photo at the International Airport in Berakas yesterday prior to their departure for the 31st King’s Cup Sepak Takraw Tournament 2016 in Thailand. Brunei will be competing at the three premier events: double, regu and team at the October 17-23 tournament. Picture: Courtesy of Hj Isa Hj Marsidi
THE national sepak takraw team left the country yesterday to compete in tomorrow’s 31st King’s Cup Sepak Takraw Tournament 2016 in Thailand.
Brunei will be competing at the three premier events: double, regu and team at the October 17-23 tournament held in Bangkok. Present to send the 10-player delegation led by team manager Hj Isa Hj Marsidi at the International Airport in Berakas yesterday was the Brunei Darussalam Sepak Takraw Association (Pestabaru) president Pg Hj Ali Hassan Pg DSLJ Hj Abas.
“We would like thanks and convey our appreciation to the government through the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports (MCYS) for their financial and moral support that enable us to take part in the tournament this year,” team manager Hj Isa told The Brunei Times yesterday. “We have involved in this tournament for more than 15 years and we have won many medals in the past, including the two bronze medals in our last outing at the tournament,” he added.
The national sepak takraw team won two bronze medals in the previous edition of the tournament held in May last year. The first bronze medal came from the regu event premier event while the second medal was from the regu event in Division 1.
In the Premier Division, Brunei opened their campaign with a 3-0 defeat to hosts Thailand but they bounced back with a 2-0 win over China to book a place in the semi-final. They faced South Korea in the semi-final and lost 2-0 to settle for bronze as a losing semi-finalist. Meanwhile in Division 1, Brunei defeated Iran 2-0 to qualify for the semi-final but they lost on to a place in the final to the Philippines, who beat them 2-0.
Brunei also competed in the doubles event of the Premier Division but lost all their matches. Also travelling with the team to attend the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF) upgrading referee course were three local referees: Hj Zaman Samat, Ramlan Hj Mohd Said and Azman Hj Azamain.
Hj Zaman and Hj Ramlan will also attend the ISTAF congress that will also be held in Bangkok from October 20-22.
