July 22, 2024
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Three national athletes will be competing in the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris, France.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council handed over the national flag to the Brunei Darussalam contingent‘s chef de mission Director of Youth and Sports Hajah Umi Kalthum binti Haji Abdul Karim in a ceremony at the green room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium yesterday.
The contingent comprises eight members, including national swimmers Zeke Chan Zhi Yue and Hayley Wong Ann Yue as well as sprinter Muhammad Noor Firdaus Ar-Rasyid bin Haji Mohd Idris.
“I am very honoured to be selected to represent the country in the Olympic Games,” said Chan, who will be competing in the 100-metre(m) breaststroke, adding that his training has been going well.
He also spent a month in Singapore, where he said he was able to train with high calibre swimmers, motivating him to train harder. “This really helped with my preparation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Wong, who is competing in the women’s 100m breaststroke, is Brunei Darussalam’s female flag carrier. She said she is grateful to be able to represent the nation.
“It has always been my dream to compete in the Olympics, the biggest sporting event in the world.
“I will try my best there and break my personal record, as well as hope to make new friends from all over the world.”
Muhammad Noor Firdaus Ar-Rasyid, competing in the men’s 100m sprint said it is his second time competing at the Olympics.
“My goal is to get my best result of the season,” he said. “My personal best time was 10.48 last year and if I could break my personal best, it would be an outstanding achievement.”
He said the Olympics will be his first major tournament outside of the country this year, noting that he has been training normally.
“Through self-funding, I did participate in three competitions in a neighbouring country this year to compete and improve,” he added.
He added that he believed the Paris Olympics will be different from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which had many restrictions due to COVID-19.
“We hope to experience the atmosphere of many spectators cheering on all the athletes,” he said.
During the ceremony yesterday, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad said the athletes were selected based on their hard work and commitment.
“Display your best performance through healthy competition against other athletes,” he told the contingent, while reminding them to maintain discipline throughout the event and avoid tarnishing the reputation of the country.
This is the seventh time that Brunei Darussalam is participating in the Olympic Games.
His Royal Highness in a group photo with national swimmer Zeke Chan Zhi Yue and his family. PHOTO: BORNEO BULLETIN
His Royal Highness in a group photo with national swimmer Hayley Wong Ann Yue and her family. PHOTO: BORNEO BULLETIN
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council hands over the national flag to Brunei Darussalam contingent‘s chef de mission Director of Youth and Sports Hajah Umi Kalthum binti Haji Abdul Karim. PHOTO: BORNEO BULLETIN