Indonesia Fights Its Way to Regain Pencak Silat Crown

A young athlete demonstrates his self-defense skills at the finals of the Pencak Silat World Championship 2010 in Jakarta on Friday. Indonesia broke Vietnam’s decade-long hold on the sport by emerging with the most gold medals. (JG Photo/Jurnasyanto Sukarno)

JAKARTA - After being in the shadow of Vietnam in the last three years, Indonesia has finally regained its place at the top of the martial art it gave the world.

The hosts emerged the overall champions at the conclusion of the 14th World Pencak Silat Championships in Jakarta, on Friday, bagging 10 gold medals, five silvers and six bronzes.

Vietnam finished second with eight golds, eight silvers, and three bronzes, followed by Malaysia (4-4-6) and Brunei (1-0-3).

Vietnam was the overall winner of the 2007 world championships and also took the most golds at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

At Jakarta’s Padepokan Pencak Silat complex, Indonesia swept all six golds in the artistic events (seni), with the other four coming from combat events (tarung).

Prabowo Subianto, president of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSI), praised the athletes for their achievement.

“I hope this will mark the reawakening of our own martial arts, which has been dominated for some time by Vietnam,” said Prabowo, who on Thursday was elected president of the International Pencak Silat Federation (Persilat).

“Our next target is to help the country win the overall championship at the Southeast Asian Games next year,” he added.

In the 2009 SEA Games, Indonesia managed to win only two golds, while Vietnam had six and Malaysia four.

Among the gold medalists in this week’s tarung events were Pranoto and Dian Kristanto.

Pranoto, who used to compete in the men’s H class (80-85 kilograms), was fielded in the J class (90-95kg), where he beat Malaysia’s Nik Mohd. Noor Rashdan 5-0.

“When I arrived at Padepokan to join the training camp, I was overweight,” Pranoto said. “Since it was impossible for me to reduce weight quickly, my coach decided to field me in a heavier weight class.”

Dian defeated Diep Ngoc Vu Minh of Vietnam 5-0 to top the men’s A class (45-50kg) despite not having seen action since injuring his right leg at the inaugural Asian Beach Games that were held in 2008.

“I was groggy and not quite sure if I can make it or not. I’ve only been practicing all this time, but now I’ve done it. I’m so satisfied and I’ve gained more confident,” the 26-year-old said, adding that his next target was suiting up for the SEA Games.

The other two tarung gold medals came from Sapto Purnomo and Rosmayani.

Sapto bagged his gold medal after beating Patrick Pronk of the Netherlands 5-0 in the men’s class D (60-65kg) final.

Rosmayani defeated Malaysian Malini Binti Muhammad 5-0 to win the gold in the women’s class C (55-60kg).

Written by AMI AFRIATNI & JENNIFER JETT
Sourced from http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/sports/indonesia-fights-its-way-to-regain-pencak-silat-crown/412384