Cabaran rocks!!! The first ever endurance sports challenge named "Cabaran Anak Brunei 2009" of Bank Islam Brunei Berhad (BIBD) was officiated last Sunday by Dato Paduka Awg Hj Ali bin Haji Apong, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance. The preliminary round saw the participants flagged off at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School in Jalan Kebangsaan.

Among the 240 participants partaking in the preliminary round was Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pg Salleh Ab Rahaman. She was accompanied by Pengiran Siti Aminah binti Pengiran Haji Othman and two other members of their team named S.M.A.Z.

The first ever endurance sports challenge named "Cabaran Anak Brunei 2009" of Bank Islam Brunei Berhad (BIBD) was officiated yesterday by Dato Paduka Awg Hj Ali bin Haji Apong, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance. The preliminary round saw the participants flagged off at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School in Jalan Kebangsaan.

Among the 240 participants partaking in the preliminary round was Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pg Salleh Ab Rahaman. She was accompanied by Pengiran Siti Aminah binti Pengiran Haji Othman and two other members of their team named S.M.A.Z.

Based on local culture, youth, environment, and industry, the challenge is aimed at promoting the youths as the main impetus to help conserve Brunei's tradition, appreciate the blessings of our country and to be an inspiration and dynamic asset for the country's future progression.

Yesterday's preliminary round saw 60 teams comprising four members in each group with their respective teams competing neck and neck and vying for the top five places of the grand finale, which will take place next Sunday June 21.

With the challenge taking place in four venues that are within 10km of Bandar Seri Begawan namely the school's compound, BIBD headquarters, SMJA/SOAS areas and Kg Tamoi, the teams had to brave through various thrilling games, challenging their physical and mental endurance, skills and knowledge as well as racing against a limited time frame allotted between the games.

BIBD has created, formulated and initiated more than 25 games based on Brunei's culture, traditions, environment, industry and sports to target dynamic, energetic and enduring individuals that will be feted with the challenge hat to explore their limits.

Out of the 60 teams, half were eliminated in the morning with the other half going to the second stage in the afternoon to short list the top five teams at the end of the day.

The top five teams namely Dragon Ball, Absolute 4, Hercules, Soul X and Anak Brunei will be contending in a much tougher and challenging series of games before the winning team can claim the champion title of the first ever BIBD Cabaran Anak Brunei 2009. [Borneo Bulletin, Lyna Mohd]

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