KUCHING: Malaysia were crowned overall champions in the inaugural Sarawak Premier International Silat Championship (SPISC).
They picked up 11 gold, two silver and two bronze medals to win USD20,000 (RM89,370) and a championship belt.
Hosts Sarawak came in second place with nine gold, nine silver and nine bronze medals followed by Singapore who brought home eight gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals.
Sarawak and Singapore received prize moneys of USD4,000 (RM27,800) and USD2,000 (RM8,937) respectively.
Afiq Aniq Fazly started the national team’s gold-medal haul with his brilliant show in the senior Men’s G category. Norsyakirah Muksin followed it up in the senior Women’s B event while Mohamad Hazim Amzad wrapped up the senior Men’s C category.
Other gold performers were Mohd Abdul Latif Mazakir in the Putra H senior category, Siti Shazwana Ajak (Putri D senior) and Nor Farah Mazlan (Putri A senior).
National squad coach Siti Rahmah Nasir was happy with her squad’s performance, saying their achievements met the targets.
She said the tournament was a a platform to get the team ready for the upcoming SEA Games in Cambodia.
“The exponents who competed at the SPISC will make up the national squad to the SEA Games,” said Siti.
The week-long inaugural Sarawak championship from Feb 27 to Mar 5 featured 800 participants from 11 countries and 10 local contingents.
The foreign teams included Philippines, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Brunei, United States, Thailand, the Netherlands and Uzbekistan.
Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dr Ripin Lamat officiated at the closing ceremony at Stadium Perpaduan Kuching yesterday (March 5).
Dr Ripin called on silat practitioners to maintain their growing success and passion for the sport.
“Winning and losing is part of the game but what is more important is to use this opportunity to strengthen the relationship between your fellow silat opponents while exchanging views and opinions to achieve a brilliant future in the sport,” he said.
He assured that the state government will always support the hosting international-level competitions.
Among those present at the closing ceremony were Rumpun Silat Sarawak president Muhammad Haneef Ali, his deputy president and chairman of the organising committee Datuk Mohamad Yusnar Matalie.
