Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen Bolkiah and the other Asian royals at the Southeast Asian Games
Malaysia’s Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Thailand’s Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana and the UAE’s Sheikh Juma Dalmoook al-Maktoum have all made their mark at previous games
Prince Abdul Mateen, 28, and his sister, 35, were not the only Asian royals who took part in the various athletic events. Brunei has a tradition steeped in passion for athletic glory.
Asian royalty in quest for glory
Other royals have also competed on the Brunei polo team, including Pengiran Muda Bahar Bolkiah and Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi (and others will do so this year). When asked about playing with his royal family on the field, Prince Mateen is casual and respectful about it, saying, “I guess on the field we are very old teammates; it doesn’t matter if we’re family. The trick is to treat each other as teammates.”
Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah competed in 2009 in singles and doubles nine-ball pool events. And Brunei soccer captain Prince Faiq Bolkiah — similar to Prince Mateen — is a rising heartthrob and star on the international stage. This nephew of the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah and the son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, Prince Faiq made his games debut in 2015 in Singapore, then played in the Malaysian Games in 2017. He’ll compete again this year, even though days ago he was rushed to the hospital after accidentally ingesting peanuts in a curry served to him. He is severely allergic. But team captain Prince Faiq is fine, fully recovered, and will lead his squad as planned.
Other Asian royals have competed in the SEA Games, as well as the Olympics.
Malaysia’s Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin made history in 2017 when he became the first-ever sultan to compete in the SEA Games. He won two gold medals in individual and team events of the 80km equestrian endurance race. Thailand’s Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, the sole daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, competed in the 2005 and 2007 SEA Games in badminton. She also competed in equestrian dressage in Myanmar in 2013. Sheikh Juma Dalmoook al-Maktoum won a silver medal for the United Arab Emirates in double-trap shooting at the games in Guangzhou, China, in 2010. Many years ago, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh famously competed in Thailand’s sailing squad at four Olympic Games: in Melbourne, 1956; Rome, 1960; Tokyo, 1964; and Munich, 1972.