The high-profile sporting background of Brunei Prince Abdul Mateen, who won SEA Games polo silver

Far from treating polo as a mere hobby, Prince Mateen has competed and represented Brunei at the highest regional levels, like the SEA Games, where he was a key member of the national polo team that won bronze medals at both the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur and the 2019 edition in the Philippines.

He kept this form in SEA Games 33, where he helped Brunei beat Malaysia in the semi-final, before losing to hosts Thailand in the final and settling for silver.

Beyond the regional competitions, Prince Mateen competes internationally through his own professional team, MB Polo, which have seen significant success in Europe, most notably winning the prestigious Gold Cup at the Torneo Internacional de Polo in Sotogrande, Spain, in 2019.

Prince of Brunei Abdul Mateen at the SEA Games 33 polo event. Photo by Instagram/@tmski

Prince Mateen’s physique, which he often posts on his Instagram account with over 3.1 million followers, is not just for show. It is the result of rigorous military training. His sporting background is deeply tied to his career as a trained soldier and pilot. Like many royals, he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the U.K., graduating in 2011 from a course known for demanding top physical fitness and mental resilience, according to Singaporean outlet Zula.

Taking his training a step further, Prince Mateen completed the All Arms Commando Course with the Royal Marines in 2021. Known as one of the toughest military courses in the world, it requires candidates to pass distinct physical tests, including endurance challenges and assault courses, which he finished in the top ten, earning the coveted Green Beret, Lifestyle Asia reported.

He is also a qualified helicopter pilot trained on Blackhawks and has earned his parachute wings, further showcasing his knack for high-adrenaline, physically demanding activities.

Prince Abdul Mateen as a trained helicopter pilot. Photo by Instagram/@tmski

Before polo became his main focus, the prince was an avid footballer who played for the Bruneian club AM Gunners as a midfielder. He captained the team in high-profile charity matches, such as the 2007 match against Projek Ikan Pusu and a 2008 clash against the Sports School, raising funds and drawing attention to youth sports development in the Sultanate. To this day, he remains a passionate fan of the sport as he’s a big Manchester United supporter and plays casually to maintain his fitness, according to Tatler Asia.

Prince Mateen’s athletic interests extend beyond polo and football. He is frequently seen training in boxing, using the sport to sharpen his reflexes and conditioning and even established a gym in Brunei to promote fitness culture in the country, Grazia reported.

He is also an advanced PADI-certified scuba diver, a frequent skier often spotted on the slopes of Verbier, Switzerland and enjoys golf at elite courses like Royal Valderrama. On top of that, the prince has dabbled in badminton at a national competitive level in his youth and trains in mixed martial arts.

Prince Mateen, 34, is the fourth son and tenth child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. He was widely known before marriage as "Asia’s most eligible bachelor", according to Tatler. He was granted honorary membership in the Special Forces Regiment in 2019 and promoted to the rank of Major in 2021.