T

he Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) has selected 37 athletes to train for the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, aiming to snatch 12 of 18 gold medals at the biennial event.

The athletes, including world champion and gold medalist Diyan Kristianto, were chosen after a two-day nationwide selection process that ended on Wednesday.

IPSI chief Muchdi Purwopranjono said he expected the national squad would win six gold medals in tanding (fighting) events and six from seni (demonstration) events.

“The 37 athletes have officially joined the dedicated SEA Games training program. The number of athletes, however, will be reduced to 24 after another selection round in April,” Muchdi told reporters on Thursday.

Muchdi said the target was reachable since Indonesia was the overall winner at the recent Pencak Silat World Championships in Jakarta, capturing 10 gold medals.

“To have fully-prepared athletes, we also plan to send them to China to be specifically trained on speed and fighting spirit, in addition to regular sessions in Indonesia,” Muchdi, a former top official at the National Intelligence Agency, said.

The final 24 athletes would take part in a grooming session in Bandung, West Java, about 90 days before the Games’ start in Palembang and Jakarta in November, he said.

The squad’s training in China is scheduled for June and July.

Although up 80 percent of the newly selected athletes were newcomers, IPSI officials said they were confident that the athletes would perform gloriously at home during the Games, despite a threat from new pencak silat powerhouse Vietnam.

Vietnam finished as runner-up with eight gold medals in the world championships.

“In spite a lack of experience at a global level, most of their athletes were winners of national championships,” IPSI sports development chief Tafsil Rimsal said.

“We believe our athletes are capable of reaching their medal targets at the Games because it will be held in our country,” Tafsil added.

The initial group of 37 athletes has been slated to participate in the Singapore Open in April and the Belgium Open in May to sharpen their skills at international events.

Pencak silat, regarded as Indonesia’s indigenous martial art, was initially introduced at the 1987 SEA Games in Jakarta. The nation is usually favored to win the silat gold at any tournament.

Indonesia brought home only two of 19 gold medals up for grabs in pencak silat at the 2009 Laos SEA, in addition to garnering three silver and three bronze medals. Malaysia won four golds and six bronzes, while Thailand won two golds, four silvers and four bronzes in Laos.