INDONESIA GLORIOUS IN PENCAK SILAT DEBUT by Fardah

  Jakarta, Aug 28. 2018 (Antara) - Indonesia has clean swept all gold medals in eight finals of pencak silat, traditional martial arts originating from Indonesia, which is making its debut in the 18th Asian Games this year.

         The finals held in Pencak Silat Hall, which is located in the Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park (TMII), East Jakarta, on Aug 27, 2018, comprised women's individual arts, men's 85-90 kilograms, men's team arts, men's 50-55 kilograms class B, women's 50-55 kilograms class B, men's 55-60 kilograms class C, women's 55-60 kilograms class C, and men's 65-70 kilograms class E.

        Puspa Arumsari won the first gold medal for Indonesia in Pencak Silat in the 2018 Asian Games, after achieving the highest point in the women's single finals.

          Other Indonesian gold medalists include Yola Primadona Jampil and Hendy (in the men's doubles category), Nunu Nugraha, Asep Yuldan Sani, and Anggi Faisal Mubarok (in the men¿s arts team), Aji Bangkit Pamungkas (in the men¿s 85 kilograms), Adi Putra (in men's class E of 65-70 kilograms), Iqbal Candra Pratam (in men's D category of 60-65 kilograms), Sarah Tria Monita (in the women's C category of 55-60 kilograms), and Abdul Malik (in the men's B category of 50-55 kilograms).

         In one day, Aug 27, the national pencak silat athletes contributed eight gold medals, raising Indonesia¿s medal standings from rank fifth, with 14 gold medals on Aug 27 morning, to rank fourth, with 22 gold medals in the evening, beating Iran, which was previously in the fourth rank, in the Asian Games medal tally.

          Indonesia still has chances to win more gold medals in pencak silat in five final matches scheduled for Aug 28, also at Pencak Silat Hall, TMII, where Prabowo Subianto, chairman of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI), concurrently president of the International Pencak Silat Association (Persilat), is expected to be present during the matches. 
      ¿Alhamdulillah (Thank Allah), our athletes have made great achievements, thanks to their hard work. We are grateful that they could uphold the image of the nation," Subianto stated in Jakarta on Monday (Aug 27).

           Manager of Indonesia¿s pencak silat contingent, Edhy Prabowo, expressed his satisfaction over his team¿s achievement, which is double than the target set by IPSI as well as the government.

          ¿This is a surprise and is beyond our expectation. I thought we would have half of it, and another half tomorrow. But, Alhamdulillah, we have achieved it all already," Prabowo remarked.

         Since the beginning, Indonesia has been optimistic of winning gold medals in pencak silat in the eight finals of the Asian Games 2018.

         Indonesia's pencak silat athletes competing in the Asian Games 2018 are Komang Harik Adi Putra, Iqbal Candra Pratama, Abdul Malik, Wewey Wita, Pipiet Khamelia, Sarah Tria Monita, Hanifan Yudani Kusumah, and Aji Bangkit Pamungkas.

             Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Brunei Darussalam, India, Nepal, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan are the 16 countries participating in pencak silat in the largest multi-sport event in Asia.

        Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has expressed his appreciation to the country's athletes for the remarkable achievement made so far in the current 18th Asian Games 2018.

             He wrote in his official Facebook account on Aug 27 evening that despite having still another week more for the Games to conclude, Indonesian athletes have been able to surpass the target of 16 gold medals.

            "Today, Indonesia has collected 22 gold, 15 silver, and 27 bronze medals," he noted.

             He added that most of the gold medals won on Monday were from pencak silat.

          "Most of the gold medals were won by pencak silat athletes at the Padepokan Pencak Silat Taman Mini Indonesia Indah venue today, reaching a total of eight medals," he noted.

         The president, in particular, expressed appreciation to a married couple who had contributed a gold medal each to the country.

         "Two gold medals were even won by Iqbal Candra Oratama and Sarah Tris Minifa, who are husband and wife. In addition, two gold medals were collected from men's and women's sport climbing event in Palembang," he remarked.

          He continued to motivate athletes to keep on fighting until the end of the Games to do their best for the country.

          "Efforts to collect medals must still continue. Our athletes will still fight at the sports venues to promote the name of the country," he pointed out.

         As of Aug 28 evening, Indonesia has achieved a total of 72 medals, comprising 24 gold medals, 19 silver medals, and 29 bronze medals, ranking fourth after China, Japan, and South Korea in the medal tally of the ongoing Asian Games.

          Being co-host by Jakarta and Palembang in South Sumatra Province from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018, the 18th Asian Games is being participated in by some 17 thousand athletes and officials from 45 member countries of Asia.  ***4***
(f001/INE)