Nine Brunei teams advance in double petanque tournament
One of the Miri petanque team members in action at the 6th Borneo Inter-Club Double Petanque Championship at the Petanque Pitch of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas. Picture: BT/Azri Metussin
Sunday, December 6, 2015
NINE local teams have progressed into the top-16 of the sixth Borneo Inter-Club Double Petanque Championship yesterday.
A total of 74 teams - 19 from Brunei, 35 from Sarawak and 20 from Sabah - played in doubles at the Petanque Pitch of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas yesterday.
Talking to The Brunei Times, national petanque coach Somsak Juychunpresert was pleased with the performance of local teams.
“I’m really happy with how things go at the moment as majority of our teams managed to progress into the top-16,” he said.
“Most of the players are from national teams and they played really well today.
“Our opponents did give us tough challenge but most of our teams managed to fend them off.
“Perhaps this is because we have been training for quite a while for this competition and everyone is prepared.
“So I believe the chance of us winning this year is really high,” added the national coach.
“Looking at some of our opponents today, their teams are comprised of teenagers.
“That is what we lacked as we need to have juniors as well in the national teams. Hopefully we can place petanque as one of the sport activities for school in the future, so that more young players can join the national team,” he added.
The Sultanate hosted the tournaments for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012 - and won all three of them.
However, Brunei only managed to finish second in last year’s edition hosted by Sabah, and they also finished second in 2013 behind champions Sarawak.
The tournament is organised by the Brunei Darussalam Petanque Federation (BPF) with support of Department of Youth and Sports (JBS).
The competition will resume today at 8am with final set to take place in the morning as well at the same venue.
The 5th Borneo Cup Petanque Championship is scheduled to follow up after the 6th Borneo Inter-Club Petanque Championship today and will see representatives from Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak vying for the top honour.
The event’s final will be held at 1.45pm today.
The Brunei Times
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