BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Waktu Brunei Darussalam boat racing team claimed most of the first and second places during the youth traditional boat racing event organised by the Brunei-Muara Youth and Sports Department (JBS) at the capital yesterday.

The team claimed the first place in five categories of the race, placed second in two categories and third in the traditional boat race for 30 youth paddlers, also the final category contested in the competition.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, team manager Hj Shari Hj Lakim, 63, shared that one of the reasons that brought the team to victory was their regular training throughout the year.

Hj Shari added that the Waktu Brunei Darussalam had previously represented the country in international boat racing events – during boat marathon in Singapore and the regatta in Sabah and Sarawak – and they had also been actively participating in events held within the country.

“Hopefully,the youth will be more interested in these water sports, because it is a tradition we inherited from our predecessors,” he added.

Besides Waktu Brunei Darussalam, other teams who join the racing event includes the Majlis Lumba Perahu Kg Lurong Dalam, Lela Menchanai Brunei from Mukim Saba, Belia Kg Sungai Bunga and the Royal Brunei Police Sports Council.

Lela Menchanai Brunei won first place in two categories, second place in one category and third places in four categories.

The boat racing categories include traditional boat races for 10, 20, 25 and 30 youth paddlers and 8, 20 and 25 invited paddlers.

Two racing categories for jet skis.

Presenting the cash prizes and trophies to winners of each categories was the Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz.

The Brunei Times