Indonesia Sweeps Pencak Silat Gold Medals at Asian Games

Silat athlete, Ayu Sildan Wilantari and Ni Made Dwiyanti, grabbed Indonesia’s 26th gold, at Padepokan Pencak Silat, TMII Jakarta, Wednesday (29/8). (Photo: IST)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo thanked athletes who have exceeded the 16-gold medals target in the 2018 Asian Games.

“This is as a result of hard work and struggle of athletes, coaches and assistant coaches, during the training session as well as during the competitions,” President Jokowi said when answering reporters’ questions after reviewing the Village Fund development project, in Sendangtirto Village, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Wednesday (29/8).

This achievement result, the President continued, is evident. “I think everyone has showed their best performance for the country,” President Jokowi added.

Nevertheless, although Indonesia has already garnered 30 gold medals (until Wednesday), President Jokowi is still optimistic that there will be additional medal.

For the record, Sugianto previously won the 25^th from Pencak Silat on men’s singles artistic event after winning the highest score of 471 in the final round held at Padepokan Pencak Silat, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), Jakarta, Wednesday (29/8). The silver medal for this category won by Thailand’s fighter Ilyas Sadara with 460 points and the bronze sealed by Almohaidib Abad from Philippines with 455 points.

Meanwhile, the 26^th gold medal was presented by the Pencak Silat sports branch. Indonesia women’s doubles, Ayu Sildan Wilantari and Ni Made Dwiyanti, topped the highest points of 574, followed by Thailand’s pair Saowanee Chanthamunee/Oraya Choosuwan with 564 points, and Malaysia’s Nor Hamizah Abu Hassan / Nur Syazreen with 558 points.

Pencak Silat still contributed gold for the host country. From the women’s art team category, Pramudita Yuristya, Lutfi Nurhasanah, Gina Tri Lestari won the highest points of 466 and secured the 27^th gold, while the silver medal was won by Vietnam’s team (Thi Thu Ha Nguyen, Thi Huyem Nguyen, Thi Binh Voung) with a score of 464, followed by Thailand’s (As Ma Jeh Ma, Yuweeta Samahoh, Ruhana Chearbuli) with a score of 448.

The 28^th gold was presented by Pipiet Kamelia in women’s singles number 60-65kg after defeating Vietnamese fighter, Nguyen Thi Cam Nhi, while the 29^th gold was won by Yudani Kusumah Hanifan on Men’s singles. This is not the last victory for Indonesia’s pencak silat team, as Wita Wewey secured the 30^th gold on women’s singles number 50-55kg, outclassing Vietnam’s Tran Thi Them.

With this result, Indonesia swept entire gold medals by winning fourteen competitions at stake in this traditional martial arts event. (BPMI Setpres / ES) (STU/EP/Naster)