Eddie urges pencak silat referees to improve quality
SURABAYA (JP): Chairman of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) Eddie M. Nalapraya has urged pencak silat referees to improve themselves in order to make fair judgments.
Eddie's impetus came after allegation that pencak silat referees had been unfair during the semifinals of the 15th National Games (PON) at Gelora Pantjasila hall here on Monday.
"Our referees are not of superior quality. They still need improvement. They should also avoid money politics," said Eddie on the sidelines of the first day of the pencak silat final on Wednesday.
He also brushed aside the possibility that the referees' actions were intended to help host East Java become the overall champion.
"Only a few East Java pesilat (fighters) get gold medals here. More golds are obtained by fighters outside of Java. Other provinces like West Nusa Tenggara and East Kalimantan have developed the sport. I'm happy with this outcome," he said.
Protests against biased judgments marred Monday's semifinals. The West Nusa Tenggara coach and team manager entered the arena after the province's athlete, Lalu Budi Ariawan, lost to Solihin of West Java in the men's class B event.
The contingent accused the West Java athlete of using drugs to enhance his performance in the third match.
In the class E match, the referee declared East Java athlete Hadi Mulyono the winner and disqualified Haris Nugroho of Central Java for injuring Hadi. The Central Java side was annoyed with the decision and started to throw things into the arena.
Eddie asked the contingent and supporters to heed the rules should they want to protest the referee's decision.
"The referees have been trained. Yet they are human beings who have their own ideals and are ardent supporters of their provinces. But if we find out that they were not fair in their judgments, we will expel them from IPSI," he said.
"I am also willing to step down as IPSI chairman if the pencak silat family, including the team managers, do not act according to the rules of game."
Eddie said PON's winners would be invited to join the training program for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.
"By mid-August at the latest, the winners of the 22 classes must start the training at pencak silat training center in Jakarta. If the money is available, we will also invite the runners-up of each class," he said.
He also that the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) Sports Committee official S. Tapswan would attend Thursday's finals for observation.
"He wants to see pencak silat matches here before OCA decides if the sport can be featured as an exhibition in the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea. If it happens, pencak silat may be officially featured in the 2006 Asiad, offering 22 golds."
Wednesday's match also saw 1999 SEA Games gold medalist Ni Made Wahyuni of Bali taking the gold in the women's E class event, followed by Septi Luriati Jaro of Jakarta as the runner-up and with the bronze medal going jointly to Nunce Sangkok of North Sulawesi and Mayland of West Java. (ivy)