RI runners-up again in Kempo WC'ships

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)