RI runners-up again in Kempo WC'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia managed to retain its runner-up position at the just-concluded Shorinji Kempo Taikai (World Championships) in Paris.

Indonesia's kenshi (fighters) won one gold and four bronzes at the event held between April 29 and May 1 at the George Carpantier Hall.

"We still retained the runner-up position although we won less than the event in 1997 when we took home three golds and one bronze from just four competing pairs," the Indonesian Kempo Association (Perkemi) vice secretary general Samuel J. Louhenapessy told The Jakarta Post and Pikiran Rakyat daily.

Indonesia's gold medal was presented by Alpha Edison and Mulya Sitanggang who were competing in the men's first kyu (student level).

The four bronzes were earned in the women's events; Audraridzikiana and Hendar Setiani Istimewati in the first kyu; Indah Wahyu Pertami and Lora Engelistinawaty in the first dan (black-belt grade); Lilis Puji Winarni and Ida Ayu Pramanasari Pidada in the second dan; and Menah Suprianah and Ullya Himawaty in the third dan.

In 1997, the three gold medals were won by women kenshi in first kyu, first dan and second dan. The bronze medal was grabbed by men's first kyu pair.

Perkemi sent a team of five pairs to the event, in which fighters from 28 countries took part. The pairs of kenshi performed embu (series of fighting techniques) based on their skill level.

The World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO) has banned randori (fighting) internationally because of casualties during the 1970s. But Perkemi still stages the event, on a nationwide basis.

"Our poor results this year were due to financial shortages preventing us from having a proper centralized training center for kenshi. We managed to train for six months in 1997 though this year it was less than three months," Samuel said.

Indonesia had earlier also planned to send its men's pairs in the first and second dan but decided not to field them due to lack of preparation.

Samuel, however, emphasized that the achievement was still better than other countries though Japan, where the martial art was founded in 1947, scooped eight golds from nine events.

"Other countries such as England, Italy and U.S. only won bronzes while Indonesia still managed to grab a gold medal," he said.

"Japanese kenshi still dominate the Taikai." (nvn)