| Brunei karatekas for the upcoming 23rd SEA Games in the Philippines starting Nov 27 are shaping up well as they held a sparring match among themselves last Saturday at the Menglait Sports Complex. Also joining the session was an invited guest, Sonny Simangasing of Indonesia who was ranked 3rd in the 1998 World Karatedo Federation Championship. Present to witness the sparring were the team manager Hj Malai Mohammed bin Hj Malai Othman who is also the Vice-President of the Brunei Darussalam Karatedo Federation, Hj Zamri DP Hj Hamdani assistant chef-de-mission of the Brunei contingent in Manila, Lt Col Pg Mohd Noor bin Pg Hj Muhidi assistant chef-de-mission for the Brunei contingent in Cebu and Mariam Ulat the Brunei 23rd SEA Games Head Secretariat in Cebu. According to the Brunei karatedo team coach, Hj Okhida Simangasing, he is more than satisfied and impressed with the fitness level shown by his exponents classifying all of them as both "physically" and "mentally" fit as he hopes that the team can perform at their best when the real challenge comes in the Philippines. The Brunei karatedo team started training since January this year which saw the final selection going down to six from the last 12. The coach also took the final six for intensive training in Surabaya, Indonesia for two weeks in September against top Indonesian exponents. Brunei Darussalam will take part in five Kumite categories and will be represented by six exponents - Tong Kit Siong (75kg), Mohd Sofian bin Abdullah (80kg), Sim Chung Hiang (65kg) and Hj Eddie Hj Johari (55kg) while the women exponents are Wong Fung Juan (60+kg) and Masdiana Hj Tengah (-48kg). In the 22nd SEA Games in Vietnam in 2003, the Brunei karatekas managed to bag six medals - one silver and five bronze. | 
