National athletes have successfully concluded their participation in the Melaka Athletics Competition 2026 in Malaysia, marking another important step in their preparation for upcoming regional multi-sport games.
Representing Brunei Darussalam at the competition were Kasyful Asymawi bin Haji Khairul Arifin in the 800m event, Md Arif Danial bin Eddy Norisham in the 1500m event, and Md Nurirfan bin Muhammad A’arafah, who also competed in the 1500m event.
The delegation celebrated a strong achievement after Kasyful Asymawi secured a bronze medal in the 800m category, finishing on the podium ahead of 27 athletes from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam.
The achievement reflects the growing competitiveness of Bruneian athletes on the regional athletics stage, while highlighting the dedication and discipline demonstrated throughout the competition.
The athletes also expressed their appreciation to MHCB-RRP Food Brunei Sdn Bhd, Ikhlas Global Tours Sdn Bhd, Begawan Athlete, and the Brunei Darussalam Athletic Association (BDAF) for supporting their participation and providing opportunities to compete internationally.
“Through this opportunity and the support given by our sponsors, we were able to experience and better understand the level of competition, discipline, and performance standards within the region,” said Kasyful Asymawi bin Haji Khairul Arifin.
“Competing internationally has motivated us even more to continue pushing ourselves further, participate in more regional and international competitions, gain greater experience, and continue making Brunei Darussalam proud on larger sporting stages,” he added.
Coach Younes Ammouta and athlete Md Arif Danial bin Eddy Norisham said the sponsorship initiative represented more than financial assistance, describing it as a shared commitment between the sporting community and corporate partners to help strengthen Bruneian athletes on regional and international platforms.
They added that continued collaboration, exposure, and developmental support would help create stronger opportunities for local athletes to grow competitively while contributing towards a more sustainable sporting ecosystem in Brunei Darussalam.
Meanwhile, Md Nurirfan bin Muhammad A’arafah also expressed appreciation for the support received from both private sector sponsors and national sporting bodies.
“The support from both the private sector and national sporting bodies means a lot to us as athletes. We hope collaborations like these will continue to help elevate Brunei’s sporting excellence and give more athletes the opportunity to compete internationally,” he said.
The Brunei Darussalam delegation returned home on 12 May following the conclusion of the competition in Melaka.
The athletes also expressed hope that the public would continue supporting Bruneian athletes as they strive to elevate the nation’s presence on the regional and international sporting stage, while inspiring the next generation of local athletes to pursue excellence.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
