An exhibition sport will not mean more gold, silver or bronze medals to pursue in the 14th Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, but nevertheless Pencak Silat will make an ambitious move toward international recognition.
There will be a fantastic opportunity to show the public, especially the Asian community, that there is a different technique of self defense, known locally and in the Southeast Asia region as Pencak Silat, which deserves international, or at least regional, recognition.
Many, mainly in the Pencak Silat community, have praised its success in managing to get accepted to Asia's biggest sporting event, following Karate and Judo from Japan, Tae Kwon Do from Korea and Wushu from China. "Although, it (Pencak Silat) will only be an exhibition sport in the Busan Asian Games, it's a great stride toward receiving more international recognition," said Indonesian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSI) President and President of the International Pencak Silat Federation (Persilat) Eddie Nalapraya of Indonesia, on the sidelines of a recent function celebrating the inclusion of Pencak Silat in the 2002 Asian Games.
Similar feelings were shared by Abdullah Syafei, President of Singapore Pencak Silat Federation, who expressed his joy at the inclusion of Pencak Silat in the Asiad.
Meanwhile, President of Malaysia's Pencak Silat Federation Tan Sri H. Mohammad Thaib said: "It's a golden milestone for Pencak Silat in its attempt to receive official international recognition."
Pencak Silat combines the skill of various traditional ethnic of self defense techniques inherited by the people within the Southeast Asia from their ancestors centuries ago.
Nowadays, Pencak Silat has been globally promoted and developed in the five continents under the flag of Persilat (International Pencak Silat Federation, Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antar Bangsa). The umbrella organization was co-founded by Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam in 1980. Since then, the organization has spread to 40 countries.
The long and winding road toward reaching international recognition began in 1987, when Pencak Silat was included as an official event in the 14th Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in Jakarta, involving nine participating countries.
Meanwhile, in the global arena, a Pencak Silat World Championship is held every two years.
At home, Pencak Silat managed to enter the country's local official multi-sport event, the National Games (PON), in 1973, long after Indonesia had its Pencak Silat Federation (IPSI) established in Solo (Surakarta, Central Java) in 1948.
And the long wait to enter a larger international stage has borne fruit as Pencak silat was finally allowed as an exhibition sport at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, (the city formerly known as Pusan) South Korea before a probable official inclusion of it in Qatar, the site of the 2006 Asian Games.
The Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee has allowed Pencak Silat athletes to participate but will treat them differently from the official contingents, in that the pencak silat contingent will have to arrange its contest at its own cost during the competition.
The Busan games will run from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14 and pencak silat will take place for two days on Oct. 5 and 6. Athletes from 15 countries, including host South Korea, are expected to compete in the exhibition.
It would not be too much of a distant dream to have Pencak Silat eventually make it all the way to the Olympic Games, as its competition and scoring systems share similarities with martial arts from other countries, such as Karate, Judo, Tae Kwon Do and Wushu.
For competition purposes, Pencak Silat is divided into four categories -- match, solo, doubles and team.
The match category involves a competition that involves two athletes from different teams using the elements of Pencak Silat's self defense and attack techniques with the goal of achieving a higher score.
Solo is when an athlete performs the Pencak Silat Single Compulsory Steps with accuracy and precision, both empty-handed and with weapons.
The double involves two pesilat of the same team who perform their skills and Pencak Silat's defense and attack techniques.
The team category involve three pesilats of the same team who perform their skills empty-handed in the Team Compulsory Steps accurately.
The four categories are divided into male and female events.
Apart from the successful continuing lobbying endeavors of Persilat officials to include Pencak Silat in international multi-event sports tournaments, the questions will be on how people of the countries of origin of Pencak Silat, especially Indonesia, could maintain their supremacy in every tournament in the future.
Or will they be willing to see themselves as spectators only, while other countries excel and dominate every Pencak Silat tournament?
A good, but threatening example should be the 2000 Pencak Silat World Championship in Jakarta when Indonesia managed to top the overall medal tally with 14 golds but relative newcomer Vietnam came second with five golds. However, the latest world championship had shown us that four of the Vietnamese gold medalists were women, in contrast to Indonesia's mens' achievement.
Vietnam's increasing threat had begun in the 20th SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam when its team outclassed Indonesia with seven golds, while Indonesia came second with five golds.
An honest, but bitter statement from Eddie Nalapraya is that "Pencak Silat is no longer Indonesia's property". This should be a real lesson to those involved here.
Written by IMANUDDIN
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26129171_ITM
20 September 2002
We need money, say Pesaka
THE National Silat Association (Pesaka) are still in the dark over the financing of their exponents for the Games. Silat will be a demonstration sport in South Korea and will likely make their debut as a medal sport in four years time.
Pesaka secretary Megat Zulkarnain Datuk Omar Din said they have written to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) asking them for funds but to date, have yet to receive a reply. "We have been depending solely on the goodwill of the National Sports Council (NSC) for all our needs," said Zulkarnain.
"They are funding our development project for the 2006 Asiad and all our current needs for the coming Games.
"NSC in fact will also help us to host the World Championships in December. "But since we will be competing in this year's Asian Games - although as a demonstration sport - I think it is only right for OCM to give us an answer as quickly as possible." Zulkarnain admitted he is not very sure what the procedure for funding is when it comes to exhibition sports, but said that both the Singapore and Indonesian exponents are fully funded by their respective Olympic Councils.
"The Indonesian exponents, in fact, will get the same privileges as the athletes who will contest for medals," said Zulkarnain. "All we are asking is for the OCM to let us know if they will pay for our exponents.
If not, we will have to search for sponsors." He added that Pesaka are confident of delivering at least three gold medals in four years time. This, he said, is why it is important to send the exponents to Busan. "How many sports can confidently predict three gold medals?" he asked. "Not many I can tell you.
Three gold medals will surely boost Malaysia's overall standings and we at Pesaka are willing to predict it. "We are only sending eight exponents to Busan to compete in seven events (five in the olahraga and three in three in the seni division).
But in four years time, there will be 20 gold medals at stake. "Of the 20, we feel our exponents can bring home at least three gold medals, and that is not counting the other medals which we could win as well." But for now, Zulkarnain said the exponents will continue to train as usual until the final list of exponents is decided on Sept 30.
Written by GRAIG NUNIS
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26519047_ITM
Pesaka secretary Megat Zulkarnain Datuk Omar Din said they have written to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) asking them for funds but to date, have yet to receive a reply. "We have been depending solely on the goodwill of the National Sports Council (NSC) for all our needs," said Zulkarnain.
"They are funding our development project for the 2006 Asiad and all our current needs for the coming Games.
"NSC in fact will also help us to host the World Championships in December. "But since we will be competing in this year's Asian Games - although as a demonstration sport - I think it is only right for OCM to give us an answer as quickly as possible." Zulkarnain admitted he is not very sure what the procedure for funding is when it comes to exhibition sports, but said that both the Singapore and Indonesian exponents are fully funded by their respective Olympic Councils.
"The Indonesian exponents, in fact, will get the same privileges as the athletes who will contest for medals," said Zulkarnain. "All we are asking is for the OCM to let us know if they will pay for our exponents.
If not, we will have to search for sponsors." He added that Pesaka are confident of delivering at least three gold medals in four years time. This, he said, is why it is important to send the exponents to Busan. "How many sports can confidently predict three gold medals?" he asked. "Not many I can tell you.
Three gold medals will surely boost Malaysia's overall standings and we at Pesaka are willing to predict it. "We are only sending eight exponents to Busan to compete in seven events (five in the olahraga and three in three in the seni division).
But in four years time, there will be 20 gold medals at stake. "Of the 20, we feel our exponents can bring home at least three gold medals, and that is not counting the other medals which we could win as well." But for now, Zulkarnain said the exponents will continue to train as usual until the final list of exponents is decided on Sept 30.
Written by GRAIG NUNIS
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26519047_ITM
19 September 2002
600 EXPONENTS IN WORLD SILAT MEET
KEPALA BATAS, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Some 600 exponents from over 30 countries are expected to take part in the 12th World Pencak Silat Championship on Dec 14-21 here.
Event organising committee chairman Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said 22 gold medals were at stake in the championship to be held in the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa).
The tournament is also hoped to promote Penang in the world tourism map, Azhar, who is the excoman for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development told Bernama here today.
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26522409_ITM
Event organising committee chairman Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said 22 gold medals were at stake in the championship to be held in the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa).
The tournament is also hoped to promote Penang in the world tourism map, Azhar, who is the excoman for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development told Bernama here today.
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26522409_ITM
02 September 2002
Exponents barred from contact class
THE National Silat Association (Pesaka) have barred all national exponents from silat olahraga (contact) class for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in the hope of finding new talent. However, those in the silat seni (artistic) category, will be allowed to compete.
Pesaka secretary Megat Zulkarnain Datuk Omar Din (right) said that the association realised that there are not many new talent coming through and as such, took the decision last week. Pesaka have an eye on the 2006 Asian Games where they hope silat will make its debut as a medal sport and as such, have identified this year's Sukma as the place to find the champions of tomorrow. Silat will be a demonstration sport in the Busan Games later in the year.
"Although only a handful of our exponents are eligible to compete in Sukma, we felt it would be better to bar them from competing," said Zulkarnain. "Moreover, the national exponents are now preparing for the World Championships in December which will be in Penang.
"Pesaka do not want them to get injured just before such an important meet. "The reason we allowed those from the silat seni to compete as it is not a contact sport." For the record, only Pahang's Mohd Hanif Ahmad who was crowned national champion in July, is the only one from the silat seni who is eligible to compete in Kota Kinabalu.
Zulkarnain also said that Pesaka will hold their council meeting in Sabah as all their top officials will be present in Kota Kinabalu. Among the items on the agenda is the proposal of disciplinary action against the Lincah Malaysia association for their disorderly behaviours over the loss of their exponent, SEA Games champion Ismail Darus, during the national championships.
"The council will also discuss the actions of our own officials who made the mistake of appointing a Gayuh Fatani judge for the bout, which is clearly against the rules as his fighter was involved," added Zulkarnain.
Written by GRAIG NUNIS
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9984672_ITM
Pesaka secretary Megat Zulkarnain Datuk Omar Din (right) said that the association realised that there are not many new talent coming through and as such, took the decision last week. Pesaka have an eye on the 2006 Asian Games where they hope silat will make its debut as a medal sport and as such, have identified this year's Sukma as the place to find the champions of tomorrow. Silat will be a demonstration sport in the Busan Games later in the year.
"Although only a handful of our exponents are eligible to compete in Sukma, we felt it would be better to bar them from competing," said Zulkarnain. "Moreover, the national exponents are now preparing for the World Championships in December which will be in Penang.
"Pesaka do not want them to get injured just before such an important meet. "The reason we allowed those from the silat seni to compete as it is not a contact sport." For the record, only Pahang's Mohd Hanif Ahmad who was crowned national champion in July, is the only one from the silat seni who is eligible to compete in Kota Kinabalu.
Zulkarnain also said that Pesaka will hold their council meeting in Sabah as all their top officials will be present in Kota Kinabalu. Among the items on the agenda is the proposal of disciplinary action against the Lincah Malaysia association for their disorderly behaviours over the loss of their exponent, SEA Games champion Ismail Darus, during the national championships.
"The council will also discuss the actions of our own officials who made the mistake of appointing a Gayuh Fatani judge for the bout, which is clearly against the rules as his fighter was involved," added Zulkarnain.
Written by GRAIG NUNIS
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9984672_ITM
10 August 2002
Ex-World Junior Silat champion, girlfriend die in ravine crash
KUANTAN, Fri. - A former World Junior Silat champion and his girlfriend were killed when the car they were travelling in plunged into a 15-metre deep ravine at the Indera Mahkota 14 Industrial Estate here last night.
Mohd Firdaus Mohd Samsudin, 19, a student with an industrial training institute in Jalan Teluk Sisek here and Betty Azanirawatty Mohd Hisham, 20, are believed to have been killed after the Nissan Bluebird plunged into the ravine.
Betty Azanirawatty, was a trainee from Batu Rakit Teacher's Training College in Terengganu. Mohd Firdaus, a former World Junior Silat champion, won the gold medal in the 45-48kg category in Hanoi two years ago.
District Deputy Police Chief Superintendent Lim Char Boo said Betty Azanirawatty was driving the car when it plunged into the ravine about 11.50pm.
Police arrived at the scene minutes later after receiving a call from the public. Lim said the victims died due to injuries on their head, neck and chest.
Firemen had to be called into to help remove their bodies.
Mohd Firdaus was buried at the Cenderwasih Muslim cemetery here and Betty Azanirawatty in Pekan today.
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25978621_ITM
Mohd Firdaus Mohd Samsudin, 19, a student with an industrial training institute in Jalan Teluk Sisek here and Betty Azanirawatty Mohd Hisham, 20, are believed to have been killed after the Nissan Bluebird plunged into the ravine.
Betty Azanirawatty, was a trainee from Batu Rakit Teacher's Training College in Terengganu. Mohd Firdaus, a former World Junior Silat champion, won the gold medal in the 45-48kg category in Hanoi two years ago.
District Deputy Police Chief Superintendent Lim Char Boo said Betty Azanirawatty was driving the car when it plunged into the ravine about 11.50pm.
Police arrived at the scene minutes later after receiving a call from the public. Lim said the victims died due to injuries on their head, neck and chest.
Firemen had to be called into to help remove their bodies.
Mohd Firdaus was buried at the Cenderwasih Muslim cemetery here and Betty Azanirawatty in Pekan today.
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25978621_ITM
Brunei's Silat martial artists go for gold
A team of 10 of the Sultanate's best Silat martial artists and officers of Brunei Silat Association (PERSIB) were flown to Singapore yesterday afternoon to represent Brunei at the Asia Pacific Pancak Silat Competition in Singapore. Pengiran Pengawa Lela bentara Pengiran Haji Mokhtar Puteh, Chairman or PERSIB, greeted the participants at the Brunei International Airport.
Their families were also there to put the last straw of motivation before they commenced their journey to compete with the world's best.
Written by AZARAIMY H HASIB
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26415335_ITM
Their families were also there to put the last straw of motivation before they commenced their journey to compete with the world's best.
Written by AZARAIMY H HASIB
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26415335_ITM
02 August 2002
Still living in the Middle Ages
SILAT, the ancient Malay art of self-defence, has stoked the imagination in the 21st century, with more than 100 nations now practising the fighting style. Sadly, there are still some locals who are stuck in the Middle Ages. How else could one explain the actions of the Lincah Malaysia association, who threatened to walk out of the 12th National Championships on Wednesday following the loss of their exponent, Ismail Darus, the day before.
The association were unhappy that their protest was upheld but no rematch was ordered. This was despite the assurance given by the national body that Ismail would be given a second chance to earn a berth for the World Championships in Penang at year's end.
The National Silat Association (Pesaka) must throw the book at the guilty culprits when they hold their executive council later this month. Otherwise, it would seem like the national body are condoning such actions.
Silat is no stranger to controversy as there have been many cases of indiscipline in the past, and exponents have been thrown out of national camps. As such, Pesaka must now act on the responsible parties - even if it would mean that one or more national coaches are involved.
Pesaka secretary Megat Zulkarnain, who offered to quit his post as he is a member of Lincah Malaysia - even though he was not party to their actions - must also be persuaded to stay on. Although the national championships were hosted by Kuala Lumpur, it was Megat who saw to the smooth running of the tournament, which could have been chaotic at times.
With the World Championships just four months away, Pesaka must be seen to be strong and they need good leaders like Megat. It is just the bad hats like those from Lincah Malaysia, who eventually finished as overall champions, that should be suspended.
Written by GRAIG NUNIS
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9976345_ITM
The association were unhappy that their protest was upheld but no rematch was ordered. This was despite the assurance given by the national body that Ismail would be given a second chance to earn a berth for the World Championships in Penang at year's end.
The National Silat Association (Pesaka) must throw the book at the guilty culprits when they hold their executive council later this month. Otherwise, it would seem like the national body are condoning such actions.
Silat is no stranger to controversy as there have been many cases of indiscipline in the past, and exponents have been thrown out of national camps. As such, Pesaka must now act on the responsible parties - even if it would mean that one or more national coaches are involved.
Pesaka secretary Megat Zulkarnain, who offered to quit his post as he is a member of Lincah Malaysia - even though he was not party to their actions - must also be persuaded to stay on. Although the national championships were hosted by Kuala Lumpur, it was Megat who saw to the smooth running of the tournament, which could have been chaotic at times.
With the World Championships just four months away, Pesaka must be seen to be strong and they need good leaders like Megat. It is just the bad hats like those from Lincah Malaysia, who eventually finished as overall champions, that should be suspended.
Written by GRAIG NUNIS
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9976345_ITM
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