Japan joins international pencaksilat association

JAKARTA (JP): The International Pencaksilat Association (Persilat) will install Japan as its 26th member on Nov. 28 at a ceremony in Tokyo.

Persilat's secretary-general, Oyong Karmayudha, said yesterday that Japan, the mother of renowned martial arts like karate and judo, decided to join Persilat because of its close links with the Indonesian Embassy in Japan, the Indonesian Pencaksilat Association and Persilat.

Oyong said that Denmark, Norway and Syria will follow in the footsteps of Japan.

The Japanese branch, which will bear the official name the Pencaksilat Association of Japan, is to announce its members during the ceremony attended by Indonesia's Persilat President Eddie Nalapraya. Some 100 people in Tokyo have already applied to join Persilat, Oyong said.

Indonesia, which established Persilat, plans to send two coaches to Japan to help the country develop the sport.

Sudargo, the Indonesian pencaksilat official behind Japan's joining of the international body, said that Japan is due to take part in the Pencaksilat World Championship from April 23 to April 30 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Separately, the Indonesian Pencaksilat Association's secretary-general Rustadi Effendi said that the Youth Pencaksilat National Championships would be revived after a five-year lapse. The 1996 meet will run for one week at the National Pencaksilat Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, starting from Saturday.

All but seven branches have confirmed their participation in the championships which will offer 16 gold medals. (yan)