VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Secretary General of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association(PB IPSI), Erizal Chaniago, on Sunday, told that he is optimistic Indonesia is able to reach two gold medal targets from Pencak Silat sport at the upcoming 2018 Asian Games. According to him until now all Pencak Silat athletes have continuously made preparation ahead of the Asian Games, both inside and outside the country. One of them is by winning 10 gold medals at the Test Event 2018 championship sometimes ago.Although the government is targeting Pencak Silat to win two gold medals, Erizal Chaniago said they are determined to win as many medals as possible from Pencak Silat, including the overall champion.

“The minimum target is 2 gold medals. We welcome it. Hopefully with the hard work of trainers and athletes and all the prayers of the Indonesian people, the target can be achieved. Of course there are special targets of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association. We are assigned by the General Chairman Prabowo Subianto to win as many medals as possible, winning the overall champion of Pencak Silat,” Erizal Chaniago, told RRI World Service Voice of Indonesiain an interview on Sunday.

Indonesia has just become the overall champion in a Test Event ahead of the 2018Asian Games. Pencak Silat became the top contributor with 10 gold medals. According Erizal Chaniago, this result has not become a measure of Indonesian success at the upcoming Asian Games. According to him, preparation and improvement steps are continuously taken so that the target of the overall champion in Pencak Silat can be achieved.

In addition to targeting the overall Champion at the upcoming Asian Games 2018, the Indonesian Pencak SilatAssociation(PB IPSI)will make the Asian sports competition as a place of sports and cultural diplomacy of Indonesia. According to him, Pencak Silat is currently the only sport exporting coach to overseas. This is done to spread the culture of Indonesia through Pencak Silat to the world. (VOI/Andy/Alika/ART)