BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
FITNESS athletes from Brunei showed that they can mix in with the best in Asia after a strong showing at the Alltra Games 2026 in China last weekend.
Jonathan Ooi was the best performer after placing ninth out of 52 athletes in the Masters 35-39 age group division at the Shanhai Jing’an Sports Centre.
Shaun Lim and Edwin Yap were the other two who contested at the Oct 23-25 event and finished in 25th and 26th respectively.
It was no easy feat as the Brunei representatives had to go through a qualification process with a field of 150 athletes registered for an intense online workout.
Only 56 athletes qualified and were sent an invitation for the China event – which is considered the largest CrossFit competition in Asia.
Ooi was delighted with his overall performance having qualified in 11th place heading into the tournament proper.
“The goal for me was to finish inside the top 10 and to stay in the final heat of each workout,” said Ooi.
“I’m really proud of my performance as I think I exceeded what I had intended to do. I pushed hard on the workouts that I knew suited me more and tried to stay competitive in the ones that weren’t in my favour.
“I managed to finish ninth overall after seven gruelling workouts and my heat had some top athletes including some CrossFit Masters athletes, the fittest athlete in Korea, and multiple semifinal athletes,” he added.
“I think another goal was to show that yes, we are from a small country in Brunei. But fitness is universal, as long as we work hard, train smart, we can definitely compete with the very best and for me, being able to finish ninth showed that I am able to do so in this business and look to improve my placing next year,” continued the 36-year-old.
Meanwhile, Lim devoured the experience and is hoping to qualify again next year.
“I was privileged enough to qualify for the Alltra Games amongst some of the strongest around the world. Easily one of the best experiences I had,” said Lim.
“It was very well run and the level of competition definitely took me out of my comfort zone.The tests were very broad, from endurance tests to strength movements and skill.
“It definitely gave me an idea of what I need to work on and hopefully I can make a return next year again,” he added.
Likewise, Yap is taking will use this experience to take it a step further.
“So grateful to have qualified and competed at the Alltra Games this year. It was an incredible weekend filled with tough challenges, hard work, and unforgettable memories,” said Yap.
“Overall, I’m happy with my performance. I left everything out there and pushed my limits against a field of incredibly strong athletes.
“Testing my limits in this competition has taught me so much about my own strengths and exposes some gaps I need to bridge, giving me the perfect roadmap to become a better athlete,” he concluded.
The three-day event, which was formerly known as the Asia Fitness Championship, marked its 10-year anniversary and attracted nearly 3,000 athletes from 32 countries around the region.
The participation of the trio highlighted the importance of maintaining an active and competitive sporting lifestyle beyond the younger age groups.
It also highlights Brunei’s growing presence in competitive fitness and demonstrates that age need not be a barrier to pursuing sporting excellence.
Through consistent training, discipline and a commitment to performance, Masters athletes continue to challenge their limits and compete at a high level.
