October-November Issue by Plus Magazine

E SU IS ’S EN M

The

Tennis Issue

Oct–Nov 2016

A chat with

AIMAN THE TENNIS COACH Introducing

Brunei’s 3 young rising tennis stars:

TIMOTHY, ZEN AND SIN YII

TO PREVENT THE MOST COMMON INJURIES IN TENNIS

AKI PLUS+ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

A PIONEER IN TENNIS USD $3.99 GBP £3.49 BND $5.00

EDITION

MAY HELP TO PREVENT TENNIS ELBOW

Practical tips

BRUNEI

Choosing the right racquet

Benefits of playing tennis that you have probably never imagined

Oct–Nov 2016

+Content

24 Pg Aki 30 Aiman Abdullah 34 Zen Sii 38 Timothy Lim 41 Lim Sin Yii

+Plus+ Event 44 Plus+ Magazine’s First Charity Run in Conjunction with the World Heart Day: A Successful Event From Heart To Heart

24 +Health 6 Middle-Aged Fitness Fans, Are They Really Doing Things Right?

+Fitness 10 Most Common Tennis Injuries And How To Prevent Them 12 Preventing Tennis Elbow Can Be As Easy As Selecting The Right Racquet 15 Amazing Health And Psychological Benefits Of Playing Tennis That You Were Probably Unaware Of!

+Event 18 Brunei’s First Fitness Festival 20 Beach Bunch Night Trail Challenge

+Life inspired 22 Jason Lew — When the going gets tough, the tough get cooking!

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20 44

+Publisher Info

Dear readers,

his month is all about tennis and unsurprisingly; this issue is filled with a wealth of knowledge about tennis and the people involved in the sport in our great kingdom. With informative articles showing you just how beneficial playing the sport really is, how choosing the right racquet could prevent you from developing the much dreaded tennis elbow and tips to follow to prevent the most common tennis injuries, there is nothing to stop you from picking up a racquet and giving tennis a go. We had the pleasure of speaking with three young and promising tennis players; Timothy Lim, Zen Sii and Lim Sin Yii, who all started playing the sport at different ages but share the same passion and love for the game.

+Publisher Nexploit Services +Editor-At-Large Plus Team +Talent Editor Elizabeth Sim Iman Murni Joana Tan +Proof Reader Monica Lim +Marketing and Digital Content Nursadiqin Misir

Read their stories and learn about their achievements and goals for the sport here. On our cover this month is Pg Aki, a dedicated and extremely accomplished tennis player and coach extraordinaire. He stretches his time between family, coaching juniors to ensure the future of tennis in our nation and practicing his skills whenever he can as he still aims to compete in international team event tournaments. We hope you enjoy his inspiring story. Don’t forget you can follow us for the latest updates @PlusBrunei on Facebook and Instagram, where we post behind the scenes pics and sneak peeks of upcoming features. Many thanks and happy reading, The Plus Team

+Graphic Designer Anna Thien Oleh Melnyk John M. Rey

Ministry of Health (Brunei Darussalam) Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Brunei Darussalam) Health Promotion Centre (Brunei Darussalam) Fitness Zone Royal Brunei Airlines Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd

+Publisher information Nexploit Services Lot 4169, Kg Serambangun, Tutong TA 2541 Brunei Darussalam

+Have a story to share? Email it to  plusbrunei@gmail.com

+For business inquiries and distribution Email it to  plusbrunei@gmail.com

+Get interactive with Plus Magazine

+Photographer Asree Aron Studio +Featuring Pg Aki Mohammad Aiman Bin Abdullah Zen Sii Timothy Lim Lim Sin Yii Jason Lew

All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of Nexploit Services. Where option is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the editorial views of the publisher or Plus. All information in Plus is checked and verified to the best of the publisher’s ability, however the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

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+Supported by:

Plus Brunei

+Health

MIDDLE-AGED FITNESS FANS,

ARE THEY REALLY DOING THINGS RIGHT?

xercising and keeping healthy habits is the usual general health advice we receive. We all know that staying fit is a way of extending our youth, both mentally and physically. Now, over the recent years, there is a sector of the male population that has been taking these concepts too seriously. Or excessively seriously. We are talking about middle-aged men: men over forty that exhibit amazingly strong bodies instead of looking like they are over-the-hill, wear brand name sporty clothes, and catch the attention not only of women of all ages, but also the admiration of the “twenty-something” young men that feel embarrassed to take their t-shirts off at the

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beach if any of these sporty midlife fitness fans are around. You know pretty well which male prototype we are talking about. Also called MAMILs (middle-aged-menin-lycra). These men never hesitate to swap a party night, or a “beer and friends” evening in front of the TV watching their favorite football team for an exhausting session at the gym, or running no less than 20 miles through the neighborhood. Wearing their brand name lycra outfits, and probably some fitness tracker device to keep track of their performance and calories burnt, these men seem to be an epitome of health. However, are these men really doing things right? Are they really as healthy as they seem?

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN OF MID- LIFE OVER-TRAINING Usually, it is a regular visits to their doctors and regular examinations that make these men realize that their bodies and health have started to show signs of ageing and consequences of a less-than-ideal lifestyle. They may have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high glucose levels. That triggers their determination to start doing something to recover their health and vanishing youth. So far, so good. The problem arises when these middle-aged new fitness fans overdo it. Excessive and strenuous exercise may be as hazardous as not

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+Health

exercising at all, not to mention how this risk increases if hard training is done without supervision.

utilizes oxygen also decreases. Arteries unavoidably start narrowing.

Recent studies indicate that there are limits that even hardiest fitness fanatics must respect. Going over the distance, duration and intensity limits could affect cardiovascular health severely. Furthermore, a study made public at the American Academy of Family Physicians revealed that middle-aged male marathon runners have a noticeably higher chance of suffering cardiac arrest than non-runners the same age.

Exposing yourself to strenuous exercise without proper build up can lead to a sudden rise in bloodstream pressure. If the coronary arteries no longer have the ability to supply the heart muscle with the oxygen it demands, a heart attack is likely to happen.

WHY ARE MIDDLEAGED MALE FITNESS FANS AT RISK? As we age, our heart’s efficiency to pump blood to the body starts to diminish. Equally, the way in which our hearts and muscles

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Not only that, excessive training in middle-aged individuals can lead to a trial fibrillation; cardiac conditions characterized by a dangerously abnormal fast heart rate. Atrial fibrillation is the cause of one in five strokes. Intense exercise can harm not only the heart. Exercising longer than one or two hours can have an adverse impact on the joints. This applies not only for runners; cycling, for instance, can affect the hips.

Let us be clear. We are not stating that healthy eating and exercising are not the healthiest options. They certainly are the best ways to go to stay fit and healthy over the age of forty. However, it is necessary to accept the fact that after the age of 40, ageing has its consequences. We have already mentioned the increased risks of cardiovascular problems, but there is more than that. After forty,, testosterone levels decrease, men start to lose muscle mass, gain fat, their ligaments get stiffer, and they lose bone density. These factors make them more prone to suffer from sports derived injuries. Under the light of the latest scientific findings, the smartest way to go and stay really fit and healthy is doing it responsibly and being aware of the age-related risks. Keep training and do not give up but simply do it wisely, and never skip your annual medical check-up! 

+Fitness

MOST COMMON TENNIS INJURIES

AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM

ennis is a comprehensive sport that not only improves our overall health but also teaches us how to develop certain psychological strengths that will be useful for our lives. And, certainly, it provides tremendous stress relief and enjoyment. Although anyone can start practicing tennis at any age, most of us start practicing it in our younger years. I started playing tennis just for fun, as part of our healthy family activities at the age of 6. Over the years, as it happens to many young tennis players whether professional or amateurs, what began as a healthy habit, becomes a passion. You acquire good skills and techniques, you get to love it, and you start training harder to compete at least in local tournaments. At this stage, the training load becomes significant, and getting injured now and then is something you get used to and accept as part of the game. More often than not have I missed parties and typical girls ‘nights out with my peers because of inflammation of my knee or a painful tennis elbow!

WHICH ARE THE MOST COMMON TENNIS INJURIES? In majority of the cases, tennis injuries are the result of a physical overload, which means they are a consequence of repeated strain and minor traumatic movements. Lower limb injuries; the ones that affect mostly ankles, knees and thighs are caused by the pivoting, sprinting and stopping tennis movements, while upper limb injuries that occur in the elbow, shoulder or wrists, are a consequence of repetitive and high-velocity arm movements. Back pain and injuries are a

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result of rotation, extension and flex movements. Any one of these injuries can be either acute or chronic. Acute ones are the ones you detect right at the beginning, such as ankle sprains or leg cramps, while chronic injuries are the ones derived from long-time practice or lack of proper physical rehabilitation, such as tennis elbow or knee tendonitis.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT TENNIS INJURIES? No one can guarantee that you will never get an injury from tennis practice or any other sport, as that would be totally unrealistic. However, the following tips may help you minimize your chances of injury and prevent most of them: Work on your body’s flexibility, strength and resistance as part of your preparation for tennis. Train to strengthen all muscle groups involved in the game. Maintaining a proper fitness level and training to meet the specific physical demands of tennis is crucial. Always warm up and stretch for at least 10 minutes before playing. Likewise, never forget to cool down. Be mindful of your technique. Only a qualified coach will help you to acquire proper technique and develop your skills. Good techniques are basic for injury prevention. Widen your range of tennis strokes and avoid over-repetition of a particular type of shot. Only use adequate tennis shoes to prevent damaging your ankles. If

you are prone to having problems in your ankles, consider wearing ankle supports. Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after playing to prevent cramps. Avoid excessively hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. If you have no other option, then make sure to wear shoes with a shock-absorbing chamber at the area of the heel. Try not to arch your back unnecessarily during a smash. Try to bend your knees and raise your ankles to balance your body weight. Remember that sudden stops can harm you. If you tend to fall over the back side of your foot, you could eventually harm your Achilles tendon. Using heel lifts in your shoes can help to prevent calf tendinitis and the rupture Achilles tendon. Prevent tennis toe (hemorrhage under the toenail as a result of the toes jamming against the toe box of the shoe) by keeping your toenails short. Ask for professional assistance when choosing your racquet; it will be fundamental to prevent painful tennis elbow. We have provided you valuable tips that will help prevent the almost inevitable injuries that comes with tennis practice. However, the best advice anyone could give you on this matter is to strictly follow the advice of a professional tennis coach, and not to neglect paying your medical doctor a visit if any symptoms of probable injuries (such as persistent pain or inflammation) appear. Sometimes it may be necessary to stop your training until you achieve a full recovery instead of running the risk of acquiring a chronic medical condition. 

+Fitness

PREVENTING TENNIS ELBOW CAN BE AS EASY AS SELECTING THE RIGHT RACQUET

ennis elbow or epicondylitis is the inflammation of the extensor muscles’ tendons of the wrist, in the area of the epicondyle of the humerus. In layman words, it is a common injury that affects tennis players and is characterized by a pain in the elbow as a result of the wrist’s movements. Unfortunately, 50% of tennis players will eventually experience this injury that affects not only their tennis practice but their daily activities too.

HOW CAN TENNIS ELBOW BE PREVENTED? Tennis elbow can be alleviated with the introduction of proper tennis gear. Supportive braces can minimize the effects of the movements in a small percentage. However, choosing a suitable racquet can be the best way to prevent the appearance of tennis elbow. Tennis racquets are defined by different specifications, all of them equally important when it comes to the prevention or worsening of tennis elbow.

THE 7 PARAMETERS YOU MUST CONSIDER WHEN BUYING YOUR RACQUET AND WHY »» Weight. Lighter racquets may be easier to control, especially for newbies, while excessively heavy racquets lead to late contact and poor technique. However, a heavier racquet provides greater mass, and thus has more capacity to absorb vibration and shock. From an injury prevention perspective, choosing the heaviest racquet you can handle is the best option. »» Swing weight. Swing weight can be described as a measurement of the frame’s mass as it moves through the air. Ideally, a racquet should have sufficient swing weight to protect your arm from injuries, but not overdoing it as it could affect the strokes and adversely impact results. »» Balance. As the weight of the frame moves to the handle, the racquet´s head becomes lighter, allowing faster movement, but becoming more susceptible to

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Fitness+ shock and vibration. For elbow health, it is ideal to find a balance in which there is weight stability at the head, while still having comfortable mobility. »» Flex. Flex is measured at the throat of the racket. A thin beam width at the throat area provides a softer flex when measured, but a thick hoop of the frame makes it stiffer. The stiffer the frame, the rougher it is on the arm. On the other side, the more flexible frames are, the more stability they lose. So, flex rating should not be considered as a decision-making determining factor. That being said, if you feel comfortable with a racquet, try to select a flex lower than 65. »» String pattern. More open patterns permit greater string bed deflection while providing more comfort. On the other hand, your directional control will be more limited.

»» Length. The longer the racquet, the further the contact from the body, but the greater the arm torque. A longer racquet will have a higher swing weight but will feel harsher on the arm. Advanced and professional tennis players are usually capable of evaluating all these factors. Nevertheless, the best advice for beginners is to find a reliable professional to assess and recommend the ideal racquet to start enjoying this great sport while minimizing the risks of acquiring tennis elbow. It is mandatory to make a wise decision. Sometimes a racquet that could momentarily help you to improve your game, could result in more harm than benefits in the longterm. The idea behind practicing any sport is not only to enjoy and improve performance, but also to stay fit and take care of your health. 

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Fitness+

AMAZING HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF

PLAYING TENNIS THAT YOU WERE PROBABLY UNAWARE OF!

ennis has become quite a popular sport among people of all ages. Kids, teens, adults and even elder adults practice it on a daily basis. Of course, the fun it brings is one of the reasons, but there´s much more into tennis than playing and competing. In fact, tennis is said to be a whole sport, both for the physical and mental requirements and benefits that come with it. Therefore, for a stronger body and mind, tennis is the answer, regardless of your age.

TENNIS PLAYING: FUN AND HEALTH FOR ALL Undoubtedly, one of the most attractive characteristics of tennis is the fun and joy it brings to the players. It can be highly challenging, especially for learners, but over time, and played with continuity, its advantages are noticeable. It is an excellent way to relieve your mind from daily stress, it provides a fantastic way to socialize, it ameliorates your physical condition, and it is also a wonderful activity to enjoy with family and friends. If you think that only young and fit people practice it, you are absolutely wrong. This sport can be played by people of all ages and both genders equally.

DISCOVER THE HEALTH REASONS YOU SHOULD START PLAYING TENNIS NOW »» It´s an excellent exercise that improves your cardiovascular system while burning calories. »» Makes you burn calories, thus helps you stay fit and control your weight.

»» Improves anaerobic performance through intense activity blasts followed by resting moments that help your muscles maximize the use of oxygen. »» Improves your reaction reflexes, as it demands anticipation and fast responses. »» Ameliorates resistance. »» Increases leg strength and fortifies their muscles. »» Helps with overall body coordination, improving gross motor skills. »» Accurate strikes help you develop fine motor skills. »» Increases your general agility as it forces you to change direction several times in a few seconds. »» Contributes to acquiring overall dynamic balance. »» Helps to improve visual-motor coordination, as it makes you synchronize your moves. »» Increases your flexibility by making you stretch on different maneuvers aiming to give the ball back to the opponent. »» For adult tennis players, it helps to prevent the osteoporosis, as it strengthens the bones. »» Regular tennis practices lower blood pressure, diminishing the risks of cardiovascular problems. »» If you are on a slimming diet and need to do some cardio but hate going to the gym, try tennis; it will give you the calorie burning effects, with the addition of thrill and fun.

»» Helps players to acquire healthier nutritional habits.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF PLAYING TENNIS »» Helps to develop discipline, working on your skills and controlling the rhythm during a competition. »» Contributes to making you aware of your weaknesses, teaching you to play by taking advantage of your strengths. »» Helps to improve your frustration tolerance, teaching you to accept eventual defeats. »» Augments your strategic thinking abilities, making you plan your game based on your opponent’s type of play. »» Helps you develop performance improvement programs. »» Makes you learn about teamwork. »» Teaches you fair play. »» Contributes to developing social skills and respect; it is known that respect is basic among tennis players, before and after playing. »» It teaches a life lesson: winning or losing with humility and honor. »» Teaches players to work, or play, under pressure. Surprised? You probably never thought that playing tennis could bring so many benefits to your life. It is not surprising that medical doctors are considering it to be one of the healthiest activities for people of all ages. 

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+Event

BRUNEI’S FIRST FITNESS FESTIVAL

he month of September marked the introduction of another never-seen-before event in our beloved kingdom. On the 18th of September, the GETFIT CrossFit group organized Brunei’s First Fitness Festival at the Royal Brunei Recreational Club (RBRC). The event, which aimed to raise funds for new gym equipment at Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam’s upcoming rehabilitation centre, was met with great response from the public. The organisers, with the support and contribution of volunteers and gym instructors, were able to raise a total of BND6,000 during the 1-day event for the good cause. Members of the public had to buy booklets worth BND10 in order to participate

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at the activities at their designated areas at the RBRC. The event would have not been made possible without the support from City Neon, Creative Space, The CoffeeBean and Tea Leaf, Kingston Sdn Bhd, AV Electronics, Dent Enterprise, Ya Nur Company, Under Armour, Koppla Brunei, DES Fitness, Sasbrownies and Phat Cookies who graciously sponsored prizes during the Fitness Festival. The event was participated and supported of Guffaw. bn, Brusthetics, Poni Divers, Brunei’s Fencing Federation, Athos Fencing, Hi Tune Fitness, Mairgix Fitness Centre, Brunei Calisthenics, Bubblemonkey Brunei, Shooting Stars Brunei, Brunei’s Kendo Association, APEX Taekwondo, MVP Elite Fitness, Helmi Abdullah and Fitness Zone. 

+Event

BEACH BUNCH

NIGHT TRAIL CHALLENGE

he success of the Beach Bunch’s first 42 km Trail Challenge encouraged the environmental group to continue organizing future events. On the 20th of August, the Beach Bunch, in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 70th birthday celebrations, organized their first night trail challenge. The convocation turned out to be more than satisfactory, with the participation of 380 runners willing to accept the challenge of running the exhausting 21 km trail. The event started at 8 pm and the trail began at Jerudong Beach before continuing through McFarm Hills and up to Agropark, and finally returning back to the starting line.

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The female winning participant was Ivette Kortekass, who took 2 hr 4 min to complete the trail. Second in the female category was Marnie Ahmad who finished the trail within 2 hr 11min. The third female winner was Margaret Rait, with a time of 2 hr 13min. Male participants exhibited an outstanding performance. Taking out first place was Sefli Ahar, who completed the trail in 1hr 28 min, followed by Samsul Zamri and Md Shah Azhar Abdullah in second and third place respectively. To reward the competitors for their efforts, winners received cash prizes, as well as gift bags from TriUltra and UnderAmour, who were sponsors of this event. This event was a success with the invaluable help of volunteers from diverse organizations: the BruneiMuara District Office, Institute of

Brunei Technical Education Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus, Volunteer First Aid Support Team and Persatuan Tahan Lasak Brunei. Sponsors included Ultron, the Marathon Shop and DST. The very much anticipated Beachathon was held on the 23rd of October. Continuing with the ecofriendly spirit, the event was another green event against waste. No disposable plastic bottles or cups was used throughout the event. Beach Bunch is demonstrating, once again, its commitment to the preservation of the environment along with the encouragement of a healthy lifestyle. It aims to keep working towards raising awareness on the importance of nature conservation, a healthy lifestyle and human solidarity.  ARTICLE BY: Rizan Latif and Dinah Mohd Ali

Event+

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+Life inspired

JASON LEW –

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET COOKING! Tell us more about yourself. How did you get into cooking? My dream was to be a Food Critic. I wanted to travel the world and analyze food from different cultures. When I told my mom of my interest, she asked “So, how are you going to talk about food when you don’t know how to cook?” This was when I began learning how to cook. I trained and worked my way up, starting from working as a dishwasher. I love food and am always looking for something new to taste and then figure out how it’s made. I am thoroughly amazed by the art of it. How did you turn your love of cooking into becoming a sought after Executive Chef/ What steps did you take to get you where you are? It all started from making a lot of mistakes, I still do today and the best part about making mistakes is learning how to stand up from them. A few (hundred thousand) trials and errors later, I made a name for myself as The Fat Chef. Working solo, I had to figure out how to plan for events, how and when to get goods, work out the logistics, as well as deal with customer interaction — which I enjoyed. It is the constructive criticism you get from them that drives you to do better every time. Are there any improvements that you would like to make? I would love to improve my baking and pastry skills. Anyone who knows me, knows that I cannot bake to save my life! I’ve tried numerous times and have constantly failed to produce anything nice out of the oven! So far, as a chef, what is the dish that stands out in your mind and why?

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Steak Frites. It literally means Steak & Fries. It all sounds very simple — grill a steak, fry some chips and have a sauce on top. It’s actually a lot more than that. There is so much technique involved to make an excellent product. It ranges from having a beautiful sear (almost caramel in colour) on the steak, chips — crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, a sauce which is flavourful enough but not so overpowering that you aren’t able to taste the meat and not forgetting a perfect pink colour when you slice the steak open! Who inspires you to cook? Is there anyone who motivates and pushes you beyond your limits? Tell us more about what the person does that makes you want to be like them. Inspiration comes in many forms. Jamie Oliver for his carefree style of cooking, Gordon Ramsay for his ongoing chase for perfection every single time, Mum for her ability to put up with me and guide me no matter how many times I fall, Josh for the righteous butt-kicking that I deserve every now and then so I don’t get complacent, Dad, Daphne and Sally for the constant support in all that I do. What would you want to do in the future and why? The ultimate goal has always been to set up a place of my own — something I can call mine. Run the show and really just do what I’ve always wanted to do. Being an instructor would also be on the cards, I enjoy teaching people and what’s nice about that is the feeling of being able to see what you’ve taught and put into use by them. Do you have moments where everything went wrong in the kitchen?

How did you cope and what did you learn from them? I think it was the time when Vanness Wu came by. What was supposed to be a controlled service of buffet and drinks turned out to be a service that was blown out of massive proportions. We were heavily backlogged with a la carte orders in the kitchen and the dining staff were completely swamped attending to each table. I had to keep pushing my team, yelling out orders and constantly reminding them of what was needed next. While trying my best to keep a level head, I also had to garnish and clean plates that were going out at the same time. That was probably one of the worst services I have ever done in my career as everything was everywhere and I couldn’t control any of it no matter how hard I tried to. When everyone was finally served, I had to step out and take a good breather to properly calm down and figure out what went wrong. It comes down to how it was all planned. Poor planning had led my team and I to that disaster of a night and from then on I would thoroughly double check (and triple check) things before an event. A tough but a very well lesson learnt! Any words of encouragement to the younger generation who might want to be a chef like yourself? Never, ever stop learning. Even if it’s just slicing an onion, learn it. Once you stop learning, you lose.  FEATURING: Jason Lew INTERVIEW BY: Swee Ann PHOTOGRAPHY: Aron Tan’s Studio

Life inspired+

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+Life inspired

PG AKI 24 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

Life inspired+ How many tournaments have you participated in? I’m not very certain, but in total (local and overseas), it would be in the hundreds. When is your next tournament? Are you looking forward to it? I don’t play much competitive tennis nowadays. And if I do,, I am more focused on playing doubles tournaments. The next big tournament that we are looking forward to competing in will be the Davis Cup in April 2017. Do you still train regularly? Not as regularly as I would love to. I do try my best to squeeze my time to train, especially on the weekends. What are the most memorable moments for you as a tennis player? Definitely a number of them: »» Winning the bronze medal in the 1999 SEA Games. »» Winning matches against world ranked players in Davis Cup competitions. »» Being the only Bruneian who qualified for the top 8 Junior Masters tournament in the region. »» Being awarded Brunei Sportsman of the Year in 1997, after winning the gold medal in the Brunei Sports festival. »» This is probably the sweetest one — First Bruneian to win the Borneo Cup Men’s Singles Title — and have won it four times in the late 90s. Have you ever suffered from an injury? Does it affect your game play now? Yes, being in the competitive scene, you’re bound to have injuries due to whatever reason — tight schedules of competitions, training etc. I sustained an injury on my right shoulder where I had to stop competing for at least 6 months and it affected my level of playing competitively, especially against the

full-time players. It was very hard to catch up after sustaining such injuries. What is your greatest weakness? How do you overcome it? One of the weaknesses I have, especially during the early days of my tennis career were nerves — for example, playing in front of big crowds or preparing for every match. Overcoming this takes a lot of exposure where you get used to it and the nerves will slowly go away.

Definitely. Although the development is a bit slower than other countries, I strongly believe our tennis players can grow to a level that can compete with the great players around the region. Thanks to Coach Aiman, who have planted the seeds in growing the development of the future Brunei tennis players. Would you encourage your colleagues and the public to play tennis as well?

What other improvements would you make to elevate your playing field?

Absolutely. Tennis is not the most popular sport in Brunei but one which can provide a good workout and burn lots of calories.

I think it’s a matter of playing or sparring against better players than you and expose yourself by playing a lot of overseas tournaments instead of just competing internally.

Can you share with us your journey of being a tennis player, the ups and downs, and most importantly how it groomed you to be a person you are today?

Do you plan to compete internationally?

I started tennis at the age of 14 as part of the ECA curriculum in school, and began to fall in love with it. I then joined the national junior scheme that was conducted by the government under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. I then picked up the game intensely and a year later I was chosen to participate in some junior tournaments, including in Sarawak and Sabah. Never looked back from there and grew my tennis career from then on. I quickly grew to compete in regional tournaments where I have experienced wins and losses, experienced long matches (3 to 4 hour matches) and experienced injuries that halted my game (felt very frustrating). But all these experiences were the ones that motivated me even further to go beyond, as a better tennis player and as a better person. These journeys have taught me a whole lot of things mentally and physically.

I still have the urge and motivation to do so, especially in team event tournaments where I would like to contribute in helping the team to shine. So I plan to continue to compete in Davis Cup tournaments for Brunei. Who was the toughest opponent you have faced? There have been quite a number of them. But one I will always remember was Thailand’s number 1 player (ranked top 50 in the world at the time), and has moved on to number 9 in the world. He was a great inspiration to Asian tennis. We know that you are a busy man. How do you juggle your time around work, play and coaching juniors to play tennis? How do you make time? I don’t know really — it is hard. But I have a strong passion for the game — I grew up with it, so anything that involves tennis, be it coaching or playing, will always be something that I try my best to commit to. Of course, family comes first for me and I have started training my 3 year old boy to play tennis, so that’s another avenue for me to spend and find time on the tennis court. Do you see a future and growth in tennis players in Brunei?

Going back to the beginning, how did you get into tennis? I started at the age of 14 by joining the school sports activity and little did I know that the rest of the journey would become history. What tips would you give for people who are new to tennis and would like to give it a try? Tennis can be a frustrating sport, so please don’t expect too much from

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+Life inspired

26 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

Name

Pg Aki Ismasufian

Age

41 Years Old

Years of Experience

27 years

Started Tennis

14 Years Old

Life inspired+ the start. However, once you get into it, you will not regret it. What are your plans for 2017? No major plans, except to continue to make my presence at the courts — for my own good (to maintain my fitness and my level of game) and to inspire the younger generations and to help bring them to another level in their tennis game. Who are your idols?

FEATURING: Pg Aki PHOTOGRAPHY: Azree

Roger Federer and Andre Agassi. If you had the opportunity to sit down with a particular pro, what question(s) would you ask him/her? What would you do if you were not a professional tennis player?

VENUE: RBRC HAIRSTYLE BY: WoMen Hair

Besides tennis, what other sports do you do? Can you tell us about the sports that you are into as well? I grew up loving other sports as well. I do many kinds of other sports like cycling, golf, football and softball, Will we still get the opportunity to interview you for other great sports achievements you have accomplished? We sincerely hope that we do! Lol. I need to learn a new sport — might learn Cricket (jokingly).



PLUS 29

Oct–Nov 2016

+Life inspired

AIMAN ABDULLAH T

ennis coach extraordinaire, Aiman Abdullah’s love for the sport started at the ripe age of 7 years old. After more than a decade of being a player and competing in matches, he shifted his focus and began coaching tennis full-time in 2014. He now trains approximately 50 children, and is constantly pushing to get more Bruneians involved in tennis practice and matches. What are the differences you experience between being a coach and a player? Being a coach you have to plan for the players and prepare their training program to ensure they are mentally prepared for the tournament. As a player, you have to keep up with the mentality in trainings, do what’s best and basically just follow the program given by the coach. Does coaching help you to understand the game better? Yes, it certainly does help me a lot in understanding the game better and it has also improved my matches when I play. How long have you been coaching? And how many kids to you coach now? I started coaching full-time in 2014 after I got my ITF (International Tennis Federation) Level II Coaching Certification. Currently, I have approximately 50 kids. How many times a week do you coach? 7 days a week, 3-4 hours minimum. What are the challenges you face as a coach? Having low manpower. I get huge turnouts for the JTI (Junior Tennis Initiatives) Tennis Program on Fridays. But I am thankful for my students and friends who make the effort and sacrifice their time to help out with the program.

30 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

Life inspired+ Do you plan to coach more students and to help others master this game? Of course I wish to have more students so tennis in Brunei can grow bigger and faster but as I mentioned, we are lacking the manpower to even achieve that. As for now, I am thankful and happy with what I have, as they are very committed to the sport and hopefully will get to grow into becoming more committed players What is your greatest weakness? How do you overcome it? I get very scared and nervous during matches because I put high expectations on myself. But my ex-Coach (Coach Fan, now retired from Brunei National Coach) told me that “you can’t control winning and losing but you can control how you are going to perform”. Since then, it has helped me a lot in my game mentality. Coach Fan has taught me a lot on how to overcome all my weaknesses. What other improvements you would make to elevate your playing field? For now, maybe not that much, as I am focusing more on my coaching. But of course, I would never stop learning so both my coaching and playing ability is developing. Do you plan to compete internationally? Yes, whenever I have the chance, I would. Can you share with us your journey of being a tennis player, the ups and downs and most importantly how it grooms you to be the person you are today? A journey as an athlete is not easy, it’s always a bumpy ride, never consistent. The good side is that you’re doing what you love — you just have to deal with the suffering and pain of trainings and commitments, setting priorities within your family, social life, and trainings, dealing with mentality during matches, the disappointments and how to overcome them. All these

experiences made me who I am today and they have made me stronger. The most important lesson that I learned is to not take things for granted, as we will only realize it when it’s gone. A tribute to my Coach (Coach Fan) and my parents for grooming me to be who I am today. What tips would you give to people who are new to tennis and would like to give it a try? Don’t be scared to try a new sport. Tennis is a fun game and is for anyone of any ability. You don’t have to be good to play tennis. Trust me, you will have a lot of fun playing tennis. You can come on Friday at 5pm to witness the JTI program and see the kids’ happy faces enjoying every minute of it. What is your plan for 2017? To just keep improving and get more people involved in tennis. Who is your idol? If you had the opportunity to sit down with a particular pro, what question(s) would you ask him/her? All good players are my idols but if I had a chance to sit and ask a question to a certain player, that person would be Roger Federer. I would ask what his training program is like because they never reveal anything about their training program on social media. He’s been playing as a pro since 1998 and is still actively playing. Without a doubt, he’s a legend. Beside tennis, what other sports do you do? Can you share with us the sports that you are into as well? I play various other sports so I don’t burn out from tennis. You can imagine spending about 4–5 hours everyday on court; I could break down from that. To avoid that, I play other sports whenever I can. I play Frisbee, badminton and football with the kids at the tennis court at times, and recently I just started Muay Thai. Basically, whenever I have free time, I’ll try to something else other than tennis to keep me sane. 

PLUS 31

Oct–Nov 2016

+Life inspired Name

Mohammad Aiman Bin Abdullah

Age

24 Years Old

Years of Experience

17 years

Started Tennis

7 Years Old

FEATURING: Aiman Abdullah VENUE: RBRC PHOTOGRAPHY: Azree

32 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

+Life inspired

ZEN

SII

“Practice makes perfect” serves to be Zen Sii’s motto when it comes to tennis. Having picked up the sport in 2010, he has already participated in numerous competitions across the region. With a never-say-die attitude in mind, Zen Sii aspires to continue his love for the game and to raise the bar even higher for his upcoming matches. Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Zen; I study at Jerudong International School. This year I’m taking my IGCSE’s for 10 subjects. What is it like to be playing tennis at this young age? To be playing tennis at a young age is both fun and mentally exhausting at the same time. Playing the sport is enjoyable, but the overseas tournaments that I often participate in tend to involve lots of pressure from my coach and peers. What is your dream? My dream is to represent Brunei in team tennis competitions regionally and internationally. Do you plan to compete regionally and internationally? Once I complete my IGCSE’s, I plan on competing in more regional and international competitions. At the moment my studies is my top priority before tennis.

34 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

How long have you been playing tennis and when did you start to take classes? I started playing tennis at the age of 10 (2009) in the RBRC tennis courts. I Then transferred to NTC IN 2010, taking lessons under Coach Fan and Coach Aiman Abdullah. From 2010 to 2013, I took private tennis classes with Coach Aiman Abdullah once a week. I didn’t have much interest in tennis back then, as I was more into swimming — training under Coach Victor Tan. I used to train three times a week at night for swimming, which restricted my time for tennis. However, this changed once I came back from a U16 training camp hosted by ATF in April 2015. I became determined to work even harder than before and to take the sport to a new level. How many competitions have you participated in? I have participated in numerous overseas tournaments, which include the ITF and ATF. A majority of them were between 2015 and present day. My most recent tournament was the Pro Tennis Academy in Miri where I came 2nd in my category. Who has been your toughest opponent yet? Do you compete against your peers? I don’t believe there is a “toughest opponent”. As my Coach Aiman

Life inspired+ Abdullah said, preparing for a match is like studying for an exam paper. If I practice and study hard enough; no matter how hard the exam paper is, I’ll be able to ace it. This same principle applies in a tennis match. I compete against my peers on a weekly basis. Coach Aiman Abdullah organizes practice matches almost every week. During the times when tournaments are impending, more practice matches would be put in play to improve our match play. What do you think of Pg Aki and your Coach Aiman? How do they inspire you to play your game? I think that Pg Aki and Coach Aiman Abdullah have inspired me to play my game to my fullest potential. I’ve been inspired by Coach Aiman’s “never say die attitude” and to never give up no matter how tough the situation gets. Are your parents supportive? Are there any words you would like to say to your parents

for taking the time and effort to chauffeur you to and from school and tennis practice? I would like to thank my parents for always supporting me throughout my life. Whenever I have trouble I always know they’ll be there for me — on and off the court. I would like to thank my father for always sending me to tennis practice every single day. No matter how busy he is, he’ll always make time to send me and my brother for practice. Any words you would like to share? I would like to give my fullest thanks to my Coach Aiman Abdullah. Without him, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I would also like to thank my swimming coach (Uncle Victor) for strengthening my character. Lastly I would like to thank my peers for supporting me during my tough times. I’ll continue to stay positive in my approach towards my game and always work hard. As coach said, “No pain, no gain!” 

PLUS 35

Oct–Nov 2016

+Life inspired

Name

Zen Sii

Age

15 Years Old

Years of Experience

5 years

Started Tennis

2010

FEATURING: Zen Sii VENUE: RBRC PHOTOGRAPHY: Azree

36 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

+Life inspired

38 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

Life inspired+

Timothy Lim S

tarting tennis as young as eleven years old served to be beneficial for now 14-year-old Timothy Lim. Although his ambition today is to become a global representative in the sport for Brunei Darussalam, to Timothy, tennis is more than a match to win. His love for the game is fueled by the sense of relaxation, camaraderie and fun he feels whenever he’s at the court with his friends and teammates. Tell us a little about yourself. My name is Timothy Lim and I am 14 years old. I love to play all sports that have a ball in it including tennis, football, golf, basketball and table tennis. What is it like to be playing tennis at this young age?

It is good playing tennis at a young age because there are no expectations. So there is not much pressure and you can play for fun. It is also a good opportunity to make new friends, relax and learn more about yourself mentally. Also, after playing tennis for a while I influenced my brother, Wesley to play and now we can play together. What is your dream? My dream is to win a major international competition for Brunei Darussalam because it’s a big honour to win for your country. Do you plan to compete regionally and internationally? Yes, I am planning to compete regionally and internationally. I am working hard to improve my skills and mental game so that I can compete on that level. How long have you been playing tennis and when did you start to take classes? I used to be very clumsy when I was young. My school, Jerudong International School, encourages a balanced education and I have to participate in sports. 3 years ago, I

discovered tennis and I just loved it. Since then, I have been taking classes. First with Coach Isa and now with Coach Aiman.

How many competitions have you participated in? I have participated in 15 tennis competitions in Brunei, Malaysia, Bangkok and Jakarta. Who has been your toughest opponent yet? Do you compete against your peers? My toughest opponent was a boy from Hong Kong. I played him at an Asian Tennis Federation tournament in Bangkok. It was an intense tournament. He was the toughest opponent I played as he never gave up and kept running for every ball and that made him a tough opponent. And only after that tournament did I realise how big the tennis world is. What do you think of Pg Aki and your Coach Aiman? How do they inspire you to play your game? My coach and Pg Aki both inspire me as they are both very good tennis players and have won tournaments for Brunei. Are your parents supportive? Are there any words you would like to say to your parents for taking the time and effort to chauffeur you to and from school and tennis practice? My parents let me do any sport I want and they will always support me, win or lose. They always tell me to dream big so that I work hard to achieve it. I would like to say a very big thank you to them as I wouldn’t be playing tennis this much or have achieved as much without their time and support. Any words you would like to share? Brunei has been very supportive in providing the National Tennis Centre. I hope that the Government will continue this by supporting the national tennis program and national players to compete internationally. 

PLUS 39

Oct–Nov 2016

+Life inspired Name

Timothy Lim

Age

14 Years Old

Years of Experience

3 years

Started Tennis

2013

FEATURING: Timothy Lim VENUE: RBRC PHOTOGRAPHY: Azree

40 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

Life inspired+

Lim Sin Yii

PLUS 41

Oct–Nov 2016

+Life inspired

wo years ago, when Lim Sin Yii was introduced to tennis, she never thought that she’d get hooked. Today, she juggles her passion for tennis with a full-time job as a teacher, while hoping to represent Brunei in more tennis competitions across the world in the future. Tell us a little about yourself. I am a teacher who loves tennis. Ever since being introduced to tennis 2 years ago, I am addicted to the sport and always try to make time to be on court whenever possible. What is your dream? I hope that tennis in Brunei will be able to grow and that more people will play the sport in the future. Do you plan to compete regionally and internationally? Yes, I hope to have a chance to be able to play for Brunei in the Fed Cup competition in the future. How long have you been playing tennis and when did you start to take classes?

42 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

I started taking classes from Aiman two years ago. How many competitions have you participated in? I try to join all the national tournaments and tournaments nearby in Panaga and Miri. Who has been your toughest opponent yet? Do you compete against your peers? We always play practice matches against our peers and every person I have played against have been challenging in different ways. What do you think of Pg Aki and your Coach Aiman? How do they inspire you to play your game? Pg Aki and Aiman are amazing tennis players. They can manage to captivate a crowd just by rallying with each other. They always encourage us to keep practicing and keep improving. Watching them play makes us realize how much more room there is for improvement and they are an inspiration for all of us. 

Life inspired+

Name

Lim Sin Yii

Age

25 Years Old

Years of Experience

2 years

Started Tennis

2014

FEATURING: Lim Sin Yii VENUE: RBRC PHOTOGRAPHY: Azree

PLUS 43

Oct–Nov 2016

+Plus+ Event

PLUS+ MAGAZINE’S FIRST CHARITY RUN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORLD HEART DAY:

A SUCCESSFUL EVENT FROM HEART TO HEART

n the 18th of September 2016, 1,400 people registered for the inaugural charity race organized by Plus Magazine Anniversary Charity Run, a charity event held in conjunction with World Heart Day at Jerudong Park Amphitheater. The main idea behind this multitudinous event was to bring awareness to cardiac conditions and cancer. Although both diseases are entirely different in their physiological nature, they share a common lethal factor: they can be silent killers mining the seemingly healthy bodies of individuals leading normal lives and showing little to non-existent symptoms.

44 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER, PLUS+ MAGAZINE Plus+ Magazine Brunei is a magazine entirely focused on helping Brunei´s citizens to find answers and solutions to any questions they may have. Health, fitness and culture professionals devote their time to help the audience grow mentally and physically healthy. Plus+ digital magazine offers a myriad of informative and engaging articles and tips on a broad range of topics that aim to help the individuals on the road to self-improvement and self-care. 

Plus+ Event+ The start of the Charity run.

Dato Paduka Dr Haji Affendy, the guest of honor of the event. Doing warm-up together with the participants.

PLUS 45

Oct–Nov 2016

+Plus+ Event PURPOSE AND BENEFICIARY OF THE EVENT The purpose of this event was to continuously raise awareness on these diseases as well as the need for searching for the cure. Additionally, this event had a fundraising objective: collecting donations for HEART Brunei. HEART (Humanitarian Emergency Aid Response Team) gathers a group of volunteers who provide different humanitarian support working with and for the poorest sectors of the populations such as those who are affected by diseases and are ill. They provide charitable acts such as providing monthly grocery supplies to the poorest families, and act as a liaison between government institutions and individuals in need. This charity non-profit and non-governmental organization founded back in 2012 has now set new initiatives, which include: visiting infant cancer patients hospitalized at RIPAS Hospital, visiting stroke and cancer victims at JPMC, providing free First Aid and CPR training, and raising funds for cancer patients in need for overseas treatments.

Participants writing motivational messages on the Heart Sculpture created by UBD Spectacle.

46 PLUS Oct–Nov 2016

A sea of red shirts to represent the flow of red blood cells.

Plus+ Event+ THE RACE: FUN, EDUCATION, AND SOLIDARITY! One particular characteristic of the run was that it allowed three different participation categories. Groups were classified by length: 3km, 5km, and 10km. Thanks to these various categories, runners of all levels could take part in this fun, lively and humanitarian event. There was no need to be a trained or usual runner to take an active part in this charity race. It was really uplifting to see people of all ages, even entire families, participating in the 3km run. This course was both entertaining and educational. Runners could learn from first-hand experience how red cells flow through the body while maneuvering obstacles and constraints, which represented cardiac disease. As for the 5km and 10km runners, they could also experience a similar mimic of heart disease after reaching the finish line, showing them that regardless of keeping a healthy lifestyle or being able to run long distances, no one is safe from eventual cardiac disease. Another particularity of the race was the symbolism behind the colors of the t-shirts that participants and committee members were wearing. Participants wearing red t-shirts represented the blood cells running vividly through an immense bloodstream of solidarity. On the other side, committee members were wearing white t-shirts, representing white blood cells. The underlying concept of a beating heart and the blood flowing around was wonderfully

Participants moving through the 3km educational obstacle course

represented by this crowd of contributing members of Brunei´s society. This first major event demonstrated that there are thousands of people willing to collaborate financially and/or actively to raise awareness of these two medical conditions that not even the apparently healthiest person is free from. The message is clear, information needs to be spread, people need to be aware of the risks, and the scientific community has the responsibility of conducting further research to find a cure to these silent threats. Although highly satisfied and thankful for the success of the convocation, organizers are already planning a future event which they hope will garner an even greater number of generous supporters. 

ARTICLE BY: Iman Murni PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO BY: Magic Media

PLUS 47

Oct–Nov 2016

+Plus+ Event Organizer

International Partner

Beneficiary

Sactioned by

Supported by

Official Car Partner

Supported professional bodies associated with the Ministry of Health

Official Hotel partner

Official Venue Partner

Official App Partner

Official Airline Partner

Official Broad Casting Partner

Official Isotonic Drink

Official Apparel

Official Video and Media Partner

Official Water

Official Social Media Partner