Three national athletes will represent Brunei Darussalam at the Melaka Athletics Competition 2026 in Melaka, Malaysia as part of their official preparations towards the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) 2027.
The participation is made possible through strong corporate and national support, including sponsorship from MHCB-RRP Food Brunei Sdn Bhd, Ikhlas Global Tours Sdn Bhd, Begawan Athlete, and the Brunei Darussalam Athletic Association (BDAF).
The athletes, Md Nurirfan bin Muhammad A’Arafah, Mohammad Arif Danial bin Eddy Norisham, and Kasyful Asymawi bin Hj Khairularifin, will compete in the 800m and 1500m events under the guidance of coach Younes Ammouta. Their participation reflects continued efforts to enhance competitive readiness and gain valuable regional exposure ahead of the SEA Games 2027 in Malaysia.
The Melaka competition is expected to serve as an important benchmark for performance assessment, allowing the athletes and coaching team to evaluate current form, identify areas for improvement, and refine training strategies. It also provides an opportunity to compete against regional athletes in a high-performance environment, which is crucial for long-term development.
The team is scheduled to depart Brunei Darussalam on 8 May 2026 and return on 12 May 2026. Beyond competition results, the experience is part of a broader development pathway aimed at strengthening Brunei’s athletics performance on the regional stage.
The initiative is made possible through the collaboration of private sector sponsors and national sporting bodies. MHCB-RRP Food Brunei Sdn Bhd, Ikhlas Global Tours Sdn Bhd, and Begawan Athlete have come together in support of local athletic development, alongside BDAF’s continued role in advancing national athletics programmes.
Their contribution reflects a shared commitment to nurturing sporting talent and creating sustainable opportunities for athletes to progress beyond the national level. The support extends beyond financial assistance, representing a collective effort to elevate Brunei’s presence in regional athletics competitions.
With growing collaboration between corporate partners and sporting institutions, initiatives such as this highlight the importance of unified support in developing local talent. It is hoped that continued partnerships will further strengthen Brunei’s sporting ecosystem and contribute to long-term success on the regional and international stage.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
