TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Pencak Silat targeted to perform better at Asian Games
Indonesia hopes to win more than four gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games.
Change Size
Yolla Primadona and Hendy perform in the pencak silat men’s doubles category at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017. (The Jakarta Post/Safrin La Batu)
Y
outh and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi has set a higher target for Indonesia's pencak silat athletes at the upcoming Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, in August.
“Pencak silat was born in our country and this is going to be the first time athletes compete in the martial art at the Asian Games in front of the home crowd. That means our pencak silat athletes must achieve higher so the sport can be developed better,” he said during his visit to the pencak silat training camp in Sriwedari Stadium in Surakarta, Central Java, on Tuesday as quoted by tribunnews.com.
“I have received a report that our medal target at the Asian Games will be three or four gold medals. However, I believe we can surpass the target. It depends on the athletes’ training programs and the pre-Asian Games competitions,” Imam added.
Head coach Rony Syaifullah said the four gold medal target was feasible considering that Indonesia would host the quadrennial event.
A total of 22 athletes have been groomed in the training camp. They will compete in 16 events at the Games including seven men’s and three women’s fighting categories and the rest will compete in the arts category.
During the Asian Games test event at JIExpo Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, in mid-February, Indonesian athletes won 11 gold medals, one silver and one bronze. (yan)
