His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, during the closing ceremony of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. PHOTO: SECRETARIAT
National flags of participating nations are displayed during the closing ceremony of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. PHOTO: AFP
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) Honorary Life President and President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, attended the closing ceremony of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Wednesday.
The 32nd SEA Games was officially closed by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.
The event witnessed remarks from President of the Cambodia National Olympic Committee (CNOC) in his capacity as the SEA Games Federation Chairman Dr Thong Khun, and Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC) Chairman Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh.
Cambodia hosted the Southeast Asian premier multi-sport event for the first time, ending a 64-year wait. Some 579 events across 36 sports were contested in the SEA Games, with 10,890 participants including athletes and officials from 11 countries.
The SEA Games ended with Vietnam topping the overall medal table with a total of 136 gold, 105 silver and 118 bronze.
Thailand placed second with 108 gold, 96 silver and 108 bronze while Indonesia came third with 87 gold, 80 silver and 109 bronze.
Hosts Cambodia took fourth place with 81 gold, 74 silver and 127 bronze, finishing ahead of the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.
It was the country’s best result in the biennial competition, easily eclipsing their 17-gold medal in 1971.
Brunei finished in 10th place with a haul of two gold, one silver and six bronze, improving their result from the previous edition in Vietnam.
This was the country’s second best showing in an ‘away’ SEA Games appearance after Manila in 2019 when they won two gold, five silver and six bronze.
Both gold medals were contributed through wushu – which enjoyed their most successful showing at a single Games appearance with two gold and two bronze.
Brunei’s wushu competitor Mohamad Adi Salihin bin Roslan strengthened his position as the country’s most decorated sportsperson in SEA Games history after winning gold in the men’s nanquan event – his third overall.
Compatriot Hosea Wong Zheng Yu won his maiden gold medal in the combined men’s taijijian and taijiquan event, joining an exclusive group of gold medallists that the country has produced.
The country also won silver in pencak silat as well as two bronze in wushu, two in karate, and one each in pencak silat and badminton.
Acting Director of Youth and Sports at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Zainab binti Haji Morshidi led a 100-member strong contingent comprising 65 athletes and 35 secretariat officials, coaches and medical officials.
The athletes came from 12 sports namely aquatics swimming, athletics, badminton, billiards and snooker, e-sports, fencing, karate, obstacle race, pencak silat, petanque, weighlifting and wushu.
The closing ceremony was enlivened with a march-past of athletes and sports officials from all 11 countries and a group of volunteers.
Meanwhile, Singapore swimmer Quah Ting Wen who managed a haul of six gold medals and two silvers, and Cambodia’s vovinam exponent Pal Chhor Raksmy were feted with Best Athlete awards.
Thailand will be the host of the 33rd SEA Games which is expected to be held from December 9 to 20, 2025.
The participating sports will be hosted by three cities and provinces namely Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla.
