Indonesian debutants want SEA Games gold
Indonesian debutants want SEA Games gold
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian pendekar (fighters) Heny
Marhendrawati and Widya Astuti will make their international
debut at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei
Darussalam from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.
As newcomers, they have the burden of upholding Indonesia's
dominance in its traditional sport of pencak silat at the
biennial event.
"We were surprised when we were called to join the national
training program for the SEA Games. But we are proud to do so.
We'll do our best to win gold as our seniors did," said Heny, who
was born in Surabaya on April 8, 1978.
Heny and partner Widya, born in Surabaya on Sept. 22, 1978,
will compete in the women's wirasangga (doubles arts event) at
the Games.
They will display their fighting choreography using two
sickles and a knife.
"We are working hard to improve our choreography. In arts, you
must totally concentrate on the performance because you are using
real weapons. My right leg was hurt twice by Heny's sickle during
practice because of my lack of concentration," Widya said while
showing her wounds.
Both athletes joined the national training program on June 14
after several tough selection tournaments in their hometown. They
have managed to overcome their homesickness during the training
and concentrate on their preparations for the Games.
Heny and Widya competed with Pamur in their hometown of
Surabaya. With three of their teammates, they won the women's
wiraloka (team event) gold medal at the 1997 World Championships
in Kuala Lumpur. They also won the gold in the team event at the
1997 Nusantara Silat Festival in Trengganu, Malaysia.
Heny, who is about 15 centimeters taller than Widya, expressed
hope that they could have a match to evaluate the progress of
their training.
"We still have no idea where our weaknesses lie. Of course,
our coach has told us but that's not good enough," Heny said,
adding that she knew nothing about the strengths of her rivals.
Both Heny and Widya named Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines
and Games host Brunei as their toughest rivals.
Heny began studying pencak silat in 1994 with her two older
brothers.
"I just wanted to learn it. I never thought I would turn into
an athlete," said the youngest of Soeharto and Rusmidah's 10
children.
Widya was born into a family of pencak silat athletes. Her
grandfather was a pendekar with the Bajing Loncat club in
Pamekasan, Madura.
"It runs in the family. All family members learn pencak silat,
but I am the only one who is serious in the sport," said the
third child of Choidi Djajoes and Ariati.
Neither Heny or Widya intend to switch to the fighting events.
"We love the pencak silat arts. We will continue partnering
until we are unable to compete," Heny said. (yan)