Athletes arrive for pencak silat c'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Pencak silat athletes from Belgium, Great Britain and Spain touched down in Jakarta seven days prior to the Pencak Silat World Championships.

The European fighters arrived a week ahead of the competition in order to adjust to the climate in Jakarta. The championships will take place at the Pencak Silat Hall at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta from Nov. 14 to Nov. 19.

Participating countries are not only sending their athletes, but also officials, who will attend the International Pencak Silat Association congress to elect a new president, a position currently filled by Indonesian Eddy Nalapraya.

Indonesian coach Puji Handoko was quoted by Antara as saying 28 national athletes had spent a month training for the event.

Sixteen athletes, 10 men and six women, will compete in the fighting category. Another 12 athletes will perform in the single, double and team arts categories.

The championships, where 22 gold medals will be at stake, is scheduled to be opened by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. (yan)