RI runners-up again in Kempo WC'ships<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia managed to retain its runner-up
\nposition at the just-concluded Shorinji Kempo Taikai (World
\nChampionships) in Paris.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's kenshi (fighters) won one gold and four bronzes at
\nthe event held between April 29 and May 1 at the George
\nCarpantier Hall.<\/p>\n
\"We still retained the runner-up position although we won less
\nthan the event in 1997 when we took home three golds and one
\nbronze from just four competing pairs,\" the Indonesian Kempo
\nAssociation (Perkemi) vice secretary general Samuel J.
\nLouhenapessy told The Jakarta Post and Pikiran Rakyat daily.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's gold medal was presented by Alpha Edison and Mulya
\nSitanggang who were competing in the men's first kyu (student
\nlevel).<\/p>\n
The four bronzes were earned in the women's events;
\nAudraridzikiana and Hendar Setiani Istimewati in the first kyu;
\nIndah Wahyu Pertami and Lora Engelistinawaty in the first dan
\n(black-belt grade); Lilis Puji Winarni and Ida Ayu Pramanasari
\nPidada in the second dan; and Menah Suprianah and Ullya Himawaty
\nin the third dan.<\/p>\n
In 1997, the three gold medals were won by women kenshi in
\nfirst kyu, first dan and second dan. The bronze medal was grabbed
\nby men's first kyu pair.<\/p>\n
Perkemi sent a team of five pairs to the event, in which
\nfighters from 28 countries took part. The pairs of kenshi
\nperformed embu (series of fighting techniques) based on their
\nskill level.<\/p>\n
The World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO) has banned
\nrandori (fighting) internationally because of casualties during
\nthe 1970s. But Perkemi still stages the event, on a nationwide
\nbasis.<\/p>\n
\"Our poor results this year were due to financial shortages
\npreventing us from having a proper centralized training center
\nfor kenshi. We managed to train for six months in 1997 though
\nthis year it was less than three months,\" Samuel said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had earlier also planned to send its men's pairs in
\nthe first and second dan but decided not to field them due to
\nlack of preparation.<\/p>\n
Samuel, however, emphasized that the achievement was still
\nbetter than other countries though Japan, where the martial art
\nwas founded in 1947, scooped eight golds from nine events.<\/p>\n
\"Other countries such as England, Italy and U.S. only won
\nbronzes while Indonesia still managed to grab a gold medal,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"Japanese kenshi still dominate the Taikai.\" (nvn)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-runners-up-again-in-kempo-wcships-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }