iMSPORT.TV – The Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (PB IPSI) is sending 15 athletes from the national pencak silat team to undergo pre-competition tests for the 2025 SEA Games in Hat Yai, Thailand.
“This is our opportunity to test out the venue, including adapting to the competition time and conditions there,” said Indro Catur Haryono, Head Coach of the PB IPSI National Training Center, when contacted from Jakarta on Thursday while departing for Thailand.
He explained that the 15 athletes and coaching staff were participating in the Friendlies at the venue that will serve as the pencak silat competition venue for the 2025 SEA Games.
The Friendlies, he said, are part of the athletes’ preparations following their participation in the Asian Championships in Vietnam and Uzbekistan, and the World Championships in Saudi Arabia.
Indro explained that during the test matches, the athletes will measure their abilities against opponents from Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
Therefore, this phase is part of the final evaluation before the team competes in 13 events at the SEA Games in Thailand next December.
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Indro has set a target of winning the pencak silat championship again, as he did at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
National Pencak Silat Team to Hold Friendlies in Thailand for 2025 SEA Games
To win the championship, four to six gold medals are needed, so Indro and the team will fight as hard as possible to repeat the brilliant result in Cambodia.
Indro is optimistic that his team will win the overall championship in Thailand because the team is comprised of eight athletes who won gold at the 2023 SEA Games: Puspa Arum Saru (women’s singles), Khoirudin Mustakim (men’s class A), Asep Yuldan Sani (men’s team), and Rano Slamet Nugraha (men’s team).
Then, Muh. Zaki Zikrilah Prasong (men’s Class B), Tito Hendra Septa Kurnia Wijaya (men’s Class E), Iqbal Chnadra Pratama (men’s Class F), and Safira Dwi Meilani (women’s Class B).
Meanwhile, the Chef de Mission (CDM) for the 2025 SEA Games, Bayu Priawan Djokosoetono, who has been monitoring the pencak silat preparations, has set a target of seven gold medals from pencak silat at the 2025 SEA Games.
Bayu is optimistic that this target will be achieved, based on intensive training during the preparation period and a team consisting largely of athletes who have achieved success at the SEA Games.
(adm/amr)
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