Indonesia dominates Pencak Silat c'ships
Indonesia dominates Pencak Silat c'ships
JAKARTA (JP): Southeast Asian countries dominated the 2000
Pencak Silat World Championships which ended on Sunday by
claiming the three top spots at the biennial event.
Host Indonesia maintained its domination by grabbing 14 of 22
golds at stake and adding two silvers to reclaim the overall
title.
Vietnam finished second after collecting five golds, six
silvers and two bronzes followed by Malaysia with two golds, six
silvers and four bronzes.
Men's fighter Abas Akbar, competing in the D (60kgs-65kgs)
class, managed to defeat Vietnamese Le Van Long 5-0 in a dull
match where both fighters were booed by nearly 5,000 disappointed
spectators.
Coach Maryanto even had to slap Abas face three times after
the first round, asking him to be more aggressive.
"I asked him to launch more attacks but it seemed Abas decided
to play safely," he said after the match.
"Le also played carefully, avoiding any speculations of direct
attacks. I have to admit it wasn't enjoyable to watch."
Meanwhile, Abas told reporters that his passivity was part of
his strategy to win the match.
"Most fighters in my class have seen my matches and can read
my strategy. That's why I played carefully. I need to have a new
strategy for the Kuala Lumpur 2001 SEA Games," he said.
Indonesian Tri Widodo took the gold after beating Nguyen That
Tam of Vietnam 5-0 in men's the B (50kgs-55kgs) class. Yamadi
Putra also eliminated another Vietnamese Nguyen Thanh Bach Nhut
5-0 in the I (85kgs-90kgs) class.
In the G (75kgs-80kgs) class, Rony Syaifulah outclassed Azhar
bin Ahmad of Malaysia for a 5-0 victory.
Two of Indonesia's 14 golds were obtained due to Vietnamese
walkouts. Haris Nugroho was scheduled to meet Dinh Cong Son in
the E (65kgs-70kgs) class while Fentje Roike Maengkom was to take
on Bui Phu Sao in the F (70kgs-75kgs) class.
No official statement was released due to the walkover.
Reports said Vietnam's manager Nguyen Ngoc Anh banned his
athletes from competing due to their health condition.
Nakin Kamsri of Thailand won the gold for his country after
ousting Singaporean Mohammad Zulfakar 3-2 in a tough C (55kgs-
60kgs) class match.
Vietnam earned the H (80-85kgs) class gold after Nguyen Van
Hung comfortably defeated Malaysian Ahmad Faisal 5-0.
Vietnam showed domination the women's division by grabbing
five of six golds on offer. Another gold was grabbed by
Indonesia.
Le Thi Hang eliminated Jatuporn Lamsa-ad of Thailand in the A
(45kgs-50kgs) class and Nguyen Ngoc Anh defeated Hadizah binte
Buang of Malaysia in the B (50-55kgs) class.
Trinh Thi Muy clinched another victory after beating Hamidah
binte Jafaar of Malaysia in the C class.
Indonesia dominated the martial arts events by clean sweeping
all six gold medals at stake. Indonesia had won four golds
Saturday.
In women's single, Tuti Winarni won the gold with 466 points.
Ulla Britt Lutze of Austria took the silver with 444 and Rosidah
binte Haji Lamit of Brunei Darussalam took the bronze with 443.
Le Kim Chinh of Vietnam could have won the silver until her
machete fell and was penalized 15 points. Her score was 442.
Iyus Yusuf Hidayat and Asep Solihin maintained Indonesia's
domination in the martial arts by winning the men's double with
568 points.
Twins Pitzevan and Pitzedgar Landicho of the Philippines were
second with 551. Ibon Perez Fernandex and Txema Goiri Sanchoyerto
of Spain took the bronze with 548. (nvn)