Japan joins international pencaksilat association

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)