A championship of pencak silat (Indonesia traditional
martial art) is opened today (2/27) by Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo. In this
event, as much as 2,083 students of junior high school (SMP), Madrasah
Tsanawiyah (MTs) Islamic school, senior high school (SMA), and vocational
school (SMK) from all over Jakarta will be competed in 2,015 matches. The
championship itself is held by Jakarta Education Department and took place at
Padepokan Pencak Silat Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), East Jakarta, until
Saturday (3/3).
According to Fauzi, pencak silat is one of nation’s cultural
heritages. Therefore, it must be preserved. And one of the ways to preserve it
is by holding championship like this. “Jakarta Provincial Government very much
supports this competition. Because, it has strategic values as mentioned in the
competition theme, which is pencak silat as means in creating Indonesia
students and generations with characteristic, sportive attitude, and tough,” he
stated, Monday (2/27).
Moreover he mentions that pencak silat for Betawi people is
an effective means to create strong soul and tough mental. Therefore, he asks
the students in this championship not to give up easily and must improve their
martial art skill as well as respect their opponents by upholding sportsmanship.
“I’m happy that pencak silat championship is continuously
being held. I was once led Jakarta Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI).
Nowadays, pencak silat training is very amazing. Surely I hope this cultural
heritage would be continuously preserved. Continuous training is needed, like
this competition. And for the future I hope that Jakarta students can join the
National Sports Week (PON), National Students Sports Week (Popnas), and
Regional Sports Week (Popwil) and come out as the overall winner,” expressed
Fauzi.
Head of Jakarta Education Department Taufik Yudi Mulyanto
told the 2,083 students in this championship are consist of 1,250 SMP/MTs
students and 833 SMA/SMK students from 328 schools in Jakarta. “This
championship aims for further training and development from extracurricular
activity in school as well as to channel student’s talent and interest in
martial art, beside to preserve nation character’s values through pencak silat.
In addition, this championship is also to prepare candidate athletes for the
2012 Popwil event,” he explained.
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