THE 1989 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games saw the silat exponents raking in four
gold, three silver and six bronze medals, and two years later as a
demonstration sport in Manila, the exponents improved with a 5-5-5
achievement.
At the Jakarta Sea Games next month, the Malaysian Pencak Silat have
targetted a modest three-gold haul. The reason given is that it would be
tough to beat the Indonesians at their own gelanggang.
"At the 1995 Chiangmai Games, we only won two gold, two silver and five
bronze medals, not because our form slackened, but because Indonesia and
Vietnam improved tremendously over the years.
"But that does not mean we will throw in the towel, if our exponents
don't crack under crowd pressure, we may return with a handsome tally,"
said Wiralaga coach Ahmad Fuardi Salim.
Ahmad should know best, after all he was the former national champion
who won a gold medal at the 1987 World Championships.
The threat will not only come from Indonesia, Vietnam too have made huge
improvements. they won three golds, two silvers and one bronze at the
World Championships.
At the Universiti Tenaga Malaysia in Sepang 28 exponents are undergoing
the final phase of preparations. "Right now we are mainly concentrating on
the physical and mental side of the sport, we want the exponents to be in
the best frame of mind when they compete in Jakarta," said silat olahraga
coach Mat Noor Mahmood.
Silat seni exponents will make their debut in Jakarta and according to
coach Nasri Nasir: "Our best bet will be in the tempur senjata putera, we
have capable exponents in that area and are likely to return with medals."
Silat have been presented with a golden opportunity to test their
exponents before the big crunch. On Sunday, they will take part in the
Third Festival Silat and World Invitational at the Stadium Sultan
Nasiruddin Shah in Kuala Terengganu. There, the exponents will know where
they really stand.
THE SQUAD - Men: Suhardi Chin, Zainuddin Mohamed Nawi, Nordin Atan,
Mohamed Rizal, Sylvester Candy Pai, Fazli Mansoh, Wan Adnan Wan Isa, Ahmad
Faisal, Zakri Ibrahim, Rosmadi Rahim, Nordin Jamaluddin, Hussen Kuti,
Abdul Rahman Fauzi, Khairul Ariffin, Zamri Bujang, Abbas Hamzah, Shamsul
Zaidi, Shahrul Nizam, Ranizam Manap, Yusrizal Nadzir.
Women: Azura Sarbin, Bibi Aisyah, Hamidah Jaafar, Suryati Azlinda,
Norafzan Tajudin, Zubaidah Mokhtar, Juraidah Ismail, Anisah Bahrum.
(END)
gold, three silver and six bronze medals, and two years later as a
demonstration sport in Manila, the exponents improved with a 5-5-5
achievement.
At the Jakarta Sea Games next month, the Malaysian Pencak Silat have
targetted a modest three-gold haul. The reason given is that it would be
tough to beat the Indonesians at their own gelanggang.
"At the 1995 Chiangmai Games, we only won two gold, two silver and five
bronze medals, not because our form slackened, but because Indonesia and
Vietnam improved tremendously over the years.
"But that does not mean we will throw in the towel, if our exponents
don't crack under crowd pressure, we may return with a handsome tally,"
said Wiralaga coach Ahmad Fuardi Salim.
Ahmad should know best, after all he was the former national champion
who won a gold medal at the 1987 World Championships.
The threat will not only come from Indonesia, Vietnam too have made huge
improvements. they won three golds, two silvers and one bronze at the
World Championships.
At the Universiti Tenaga Malaysia in Sepang 28 exponents are undergoing
the final phase of preparations. "Right now we are mainly concentrating on
the physical and mental side of the sport, we want the exponents to be in
the best frame of mind when they compete in Jakarta," said silat olahraga
coach Mat Noor Mahmood.
Silat seni exponents will make their debut in Jakarta and according to
coach Nasri Nasir: "Our best bet will be in the tempur senjata putera, we
have capable exponents in that area and are likely to return with medals."
Silat have been presented with a golden opportunity to test their
exponents before the big crunch. On Sunday, they will take part in the
Third Festival Silat and World Invitational at the Stadium Sultan
Nasiruddin Shah in Kuala Terengganu. There, the exponents will know where
they really stand.
THE SQUAD - Men: Suhardi Chin, Zainuddin Mohamed Nawi, Nordin Atan,
Mohamed Rizal, Sylvester Candy Pai, Fazli Mansoh, Wan Adnan Wan Isa, Ahmad
Faisal, Zakri Ibrahim, Rosmadi Rahim, Nordin Jamaluddin, Hussen Kuti,
Abdul Rahman Fauzi, Khairul Ariffin, Zamri Bujang, Abbas Hamzah, Shamsul
Zaidi, Shahrul Nizam, Ranizam Manap, Yusrizal Nadzir.
Women: Azura Sarbin, Bibi Aisyah, Hamidah Jaafar, Suryati Azlinda,
Norafzan Tajudin, Zubaidah Mokhtar, Juraidah Ismail, Anisah Bahrum.
(END)
