Indonesia grabs six gold medals at silat c'ships<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Host Indonesia harvested six golds -- two from
\nfighting events and four from martial arts events -- in the final
\nround of the 2000 Pencak Silat World Championships at Pencak
\nSilat Center in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah on Friday.<\/p>\n
Neighboring countries Malaysia grabbed two golds while Vietnam
\nbrought home one.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's first gold was won by Abdul Karim in the men's A
\nclass (45-50kgs) by defeating Abang Erdie Fauzerul Abang Fauzan
\nof Malaysia 4-1.<\/p>\n
\"I was motivated because Malaysia has won two golds already. I
\npromised myself that Malaysia wouldn't get the third one,\" Abdul
\ntold reporters after the match. \"Before my final, I was confident
\nof winning the gold.\"<\/p>\n
Both pesilat (fighters) showed equal skills but Abdul managed
\nto find Erdie's weaknesses and capitalize on them.<\/p>\n
\"I attacked Erdie with T-kicks, usually I use straight-forward
\nkicks, because his footing was weak and open,\" said Abdul.<\/p>\n
Abdul, however, criticized the referee for not paying
\nattention to the fact that Erdie committed several foot-sweeping
\nviolations in the third round.<\/p>\n
Khairul Almin bin Pengiran Haji Mohammad of Brunei Darussalam
\nand Vigot Anot of the Philippines shared the bronze medals.<\/p>\n
While Indonesian Septi Hariandja captured the second gold in
\nthe women's E class (65-70kgs) by defeating Len Nguyet Minh of
\nVietnam 3-2 in a close fight.<\/p>\n
\"I fought without any worry. But I was nervous as I was the
\nlast hope to get the gold in the women's division,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"I had led some points in the first round but my rival managed
\nto thwart my tactics and counter my attacks. In the third round,
\nwe fought really close.\"<\/p>\n
Magdalena Sofia of Spain and Suryati Azlinda binte Jack of
\nMalaysia shared the bronze medals.<\/p>\n
Indonesia women's coach, Dahliana, said she had expected two
\ngolds from both Septi and Dwi in the women's side.<\/p>\n
\"Our women fighters are facing tough competition from other
\ncountries, very different from the past. Besides, we are also
\nshort of local competitions. We used to have the Kartini Cup
\ntournament for women fighters but it was discontinued.\"<\/p>\n
\"Vietnam is our main threat. They are very serious because
\npencak silat is a priority sport there. They offered two options
\nto their athletes, whether to study or have a career in silat.\"<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, two other Indonesians had to succumb to their
\nopponents.<\/p>\n
In the men's J class (90-95kgs), Samuel Mallo was defeated by
\nMalaysian Zakri bin Ibrahim 3-2. While Malaysian Azlinda binte
\nAhmad overcame Dwi Damayanti 4-1 in the women's F class (70-
\n75kgs).<\/p>\n
Vietnam won its first gold medal through Dang Thi Thuy in the
\nwomen's D class (60-65kgs) after defeating Malaysian Mastura
\nbinte Sapuan 5-0.<\/p>\n
In the martial arts, men's singles Kusnajaya, women's doubles
\nWidya Astuti and Heni Mahendrawati, women's team of Ami
\nLutiasari, Irma Nilawati and Suhartini and men's team of Anugrah
\nJoko Laksono, Achmad Rizanu Wahyudi and Yunanto Chandra Wijaya
\ncontributed one gold medal each.<\/p>\n
Fighters will rest on Saturday as delegates of the
\nInternational Pencak Silat Federation (Persilat) are holding a
\nconference.<\/p>\n
One item on the agenda is to elect a new president, currently
\nheld by Eddie Nalapraya of Indonesia. Another item is to ask
\nmembers' opinions on staging pencak silat as an exhibition event
\nin the Pusan 2002 Asian Games. (nvn)<\/p>",
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