MARAWI CITY -- The Bangsamoro Sports Commission (BSC) congratulated Fatima Juwak Amirul, a native of Tawi-Tawi province, for her outstanding performance in the 32nd South East Asian (SEA) Games held from May 5 to May 17 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Amirul was a member of the Philippine Women's Soft Tennis Team, and clinched a gold medal at the event, bringing honor to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Philippines.

The BSC commended Amirul for her hard work, dedication, and perseverance, which have paid off with her exceptional athletic abilities and her spirit of teamwork, sportsmanship, and national pride.

The BSC noted that Amirul's victory is a testament to the Philippines' commitment to sports excellence and praised her for her contribution to the sport of soft tennis.

"Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have paid off, and we are all incredibly proud of you! Your victory is not only a testament to your exceptional athletic abilities but also to your spirit of teamwork, sportsmanship, and national pride," BSC’s Facebook post reads.

Amirul's triumph is a milestone for the Philippines at the SEA Games, where over 12,000 participants from 11 countries compete in more than three dozen sports disciplines.

The 32nd SEA Games is the first time that Cambodia hosted the event, which was postponed from its original schedule in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Amirul's victory is a source of pride for the Bangsamoro people and the entire Philippines, inspiring future generations of athletes to strive for excellence and bring honor to the country.

The BSC expressed its gratitude to Amirul and all the Philippine athletes who competed in the 32nd SEA Games, hoping that their success would inspire more support and investment in the country's sports industry.

"You have brought honor and glory to our country, and we are grateful for your contributions to the sport of soft tennis […] keep up the fantastic work, and may the future endeavors be just as successful and fulfilling," BSC further stated.

Meanwhile, Amirul expressed her gratitude on her Facebook account, stating that their months of preparation for the SEA Games had finally paid off with a gold medal and a historic achievement.

“After months of preparing for SEA games, we reached our goal of getting the gold medal and making history. It feels surreal, a dream come true. I’m still on cloud nine. This is an unforgettable experience and a significant milestone in my life,” Amirul said.

“I would like to thank everyone for their endless support. It all means a lot to me, reading your comments and messages encouraged me to keep going when I felt down,” she added. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from BSC)