SIBU: A total of 271 participants throughout the state are participating in the President’s Cup Silat Championship (Kejuaraan Silat Piala Presiden) 2022 held today until Sept 9.
According to its deputy general secretary, Mohd Azfar Ismail the tournament is aimed at unearthing new talents among the new players so they can be successors to the previous fighters.
“This is because in the past Sarawak has produced world champions and Malaysian champions,” he said when met by reporters after the opening ceremony for the event which was officiated at by Sibu District Officer, Khalid Andong yesterday.
Mohd Azfar said a few categories are contested and 35 will be presented with medals during its closing ceremony which expected to be graced by Minister for Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“The contested category is a ‘Tanding’ category involving primary school (junior) and secondary school ‘Pra Remaja’, adolescent (Remaja), and adult categories.
“We will also compete in men’s and women’s creative solos, doubles, basic singles, and men’s and women’s teams,” he said.
He said the organiser has prepared selection panels to monitor the athletes during the competition.
“The panel will select them to be included in the Premier Championship that will take place in December.
“Of course, the aspects that will be evaluated are mental endurance, physical stamina, and new techniques, considering that we have just established new rules at the martial arts level recently at the world championship in Melaka.
“So, the new rules need to be applied to the participants at an early age in order to prepare them for a bigger arena,” he said.
Also present were Deputy President of Rumpun Silat Sarawak (RSS) Datuk Mohamad Yusnar Matalie and others.
