Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah (Jawi: عظيمة نعمة البلقية; born 26 September 1984) is a princess of Brunei.[1] She is the eighth child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei by his former second wife, Puan Hajah Mariam. She made a name for herself in 2017 when she was one of only two female polo players from Brunei in Kuala Lumpur at the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. As one of the ten ASEAN Women in Sports ambassadors in 2021, Princess Azemah was chosen to represent Brunei as part of the ASEAN #WeScore campaign, which is sponsored by Japan.[2][3]
| Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah عظيمة نعمة البلقية | ||||||||||||||||||
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 Azemah in 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 September 1984 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei | |||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | ||||||||||||||||||
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| House | Bolkiah | |||||||||||||||||
| Father | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah | |||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Hajah Mariam | |||||||||||||||||
| Education | University of Warwick (LLB) Sports career | |||||||||||||||||
| Country | Brunei | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Polo | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Education edit
Princess Azemah studied at St. Andrew's School.[4] On Thursday, 17 July 2008, she received her bachelor's degree during a convocation ceremony held at Butterworth Hall in Coventry. Warwick University granted her a Bachelor of Laws with Honors. Princess Fadzilah was present for the convocation ceremony.[5]
Sports career edit
Known to be the Sultan's athletic daughter, she shares her father's passion for polo. She tells Tatler Malaysia that she participated in after-school athletic team competitions throughout her early school years, and that she started riding and show jumping at the age of four. She didn't start playing polo until she was a law student at the University of Warwick.[2]
Azemah made up for her lack of expertise at first by her unwavering dedication to her training and discipline. This occurred during a period when men dominated the polo field, particularly in Brunei where there weren't many female participants. Thus, Castagnola Marianela became her coach. In the end, she was selected for the Brunei National Polo Team. At the 45' Torneo Internacional de Polo Sotogrande in Spain in 2016, Princess Azemah made her debut representing Brunei on a distinguished platform. Her team's victory in the Silver Cup cemented Brunei's renown as a leading international polo player.[2]
Princess Azemah made her national polo team debut during the 2017 SEA Games. Her team concluded the tournament with bronze and alongside her team received cash incentive through the government’s Sports Excellence Incentive Scheme.[6][7] Together with her brother, Prince Mateen, she played in the 2019 SEA Games in Calatagan.[8] They finished Bronze in that tournament.[9] At both SEA Games, she became the first female competitor from Brunei to earn a medal.[10]
In an announcement made by ASEAN on 1 December 2021, Princess 'Azemah was among the ten sports ambassadors selected to promote gender equality prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[11]
The Brunei polo team defeated Malaysia 7–4 to win the gold medal in the 0-2 handicap division at the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines. Princess Azemah, the team captain, guided the Brunei polo team to triumph once more at the first Agong's Cup in October 2023 at the Putrajaya Equestrian Park. Her team defeated the Jogo Polo team 7–5.[2]
Public service edit
Princess Azemah regularly attended charities[12] and national events such as the Silver Jubilee[13] and Golden Jubilee.[14] Moreover, the Princess also promote health related activities.[15] Her siblings included Prince Azim, Princess Fadzilah and Prince Mateen.[16] In 2009, she and Fadzilah played for the Ivy League during the Setia Motors Netball Open Championship at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex.[17] On 19 March 2018, she attended and presented the Brunei Ladies Open Champion Trophy to Hong Ran from South Korea.[18]
Wedding edit
Princess Azemah's royal marriage to her first cousin,[19] Prince Bahar has been proclaimed by the Chief of Adat Istiadat, per the orders of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Her husband is a son of the Sultan's younger brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah.[20] On 8 January 2023, the Majlis Istiadat Bersuruh Diraja would kick off the week-long celebrations.[19] The royal pair is scheduled to wed at the Majlis Istiadat Akad Nikah Diraja on the 12th, and then on the 15th, in the Majlis Istiadat Bersanding Pengantin Diraja. The national flag must always be flown by all citizens and residents from the day Gendang Jaga-Jaga opens on the 9th until it closes on the 17th. Radio Television Brunei (RTB), the official broadcaster, announced the royal wedding.[21] Among the attendees were Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim[22] and Tunku Idris Iskandar.[23]
Honours edit
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 1 August 1968)
Proclamation of Independence Medal (1997)
Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)
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Ancestry edit
| Ancestors of Princess Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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References edit
- ^ Brunei Darussalam Newsletter. Department of Information, Prime Minister's Office. 2000. p. 2.
- ^ a b c d Jayatilaka, Tania. ""When our voices join, we become impossible to ignore": Princess Azemah Bolkiah's message for women in polo". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "You are being redirected..." asean.org. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "Rano360.com » SAS revisited :D". rano360.com. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Sultanate - News | Negara Brunei Darussalam | HRH Princess 'Azemah graduates". www.sultanate.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council". www.bruneiolympic.org. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ Bakar, Rasidah Hj Abu (17 February 2020). "SEA Games medallists receive cash payouts". The Scoop. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Brunei beat Indonesia 8-1 in SEA Games polo » Borneo Bulletin Online". Brunei beat Indonesia 8-1 in SEA Games polo. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "2019 contingent produce best away SEA Games record » Borneo Bulletin Online". 2019 contingent produce best away SEA Games record. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Her Royal Highness Princess 'Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah". sites.ungeneva.org. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "You are being redirected..." asean.org. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "His Majesty's Personal Gifts Bring Cheers to Belait Residents | Brunei's No.1 News Website". brudirect.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Sultanate - News | Negara Brunei Darussalam | 25 years of sovereignty". www.sultanate.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "News - Golden Jubilee Procession". www.hmjubliemas.gov.bn. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "HRH Princess 'Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah Joined 'Let's Walk/Run Ladies 2016' | Brunei's No.1 News Website". brudirect.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ Times, Vietnam (2 November 2020). "Sultan of Brunei: All things about the four famous children with his second wife". Vietnam Times. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Her Royal Highness Princess Azeemah Ni'matul Bolkiah". Gavin Goh Photography. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Brunei Ladies Open Golf Tournament Prize Presentation" (PDF). Brunei Darussalam Newsletter. Vol. 33, no. 3. Department of Information, Prime Minister's Office. 19 March 2022. p. 22.
- ^ a b "Majlis istiadat perkahwinan diraja mulai 8 Januari » Media Permata Online". Majlis istiadat perkahwinan diraja mulai 8 Januari. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ Burack, Emily. "Brunei's Princess Azemah Ties the Knot". Town and Country Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ "Royal wedding celebration to begin 8 January 2023 - The Bruneian". 4 November 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Persandingan diraja berseri-seri, penuh tradisi » Media Permata Online". Persandingan diraja berseri-seri, penuh tradisi. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Royal tradition on full display » Borneo Bulletin Online". Royal tradition on full display. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.