VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A total of 91 Athletes from 10 countries attended the opening of Pencak Silat (Martial Arts) championship of 2018 Asian Games trial here on Saturday. 

The 10 countries that joined the trial include Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

The athletes would join the defile session during the opening of the trial. 

The trial was launched at the venue on Saturday by Edhy Prabowo, the Indonesia Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) chief.

Apart from Prabowo, the opening ceremony was also attended by the deputy of national sports council (KONI), Suwarno; the association`s secretary general, Erizal Chaniago; the secretary general of the Interstate Pencak Silat Association (Persilat), Teddy Suratmadji; as well as the former chief of IPSI, Eddie Nalapraya. 

The athletes, according to the organizer, will participate to 16 matches, including 10 games and 6 exhibitions. 

"The Indonesian athletes will strive for full powers during the first Asian Games trial (of Pencak Silat)," Prabowo, who also served as the national team manager of the 2018 Asian Games, stated.

The venue will be renovated by the Public Works and Public Housings (PUPR) Ministry ahead of the competition, he noted. 

"The ministry will refurbish the audience seats, toilets, as well as the training venues," Prabowo stressed. 

During the trial, Indonesia will send 22 athletes in all categories. 

However, the trial would not provide any assurances that the team will win the upcoming matches in the 2018 Asian Games to be held in August this year.

"We are seeking to collect as many medals as possible in order to be the overall champion during the match," he emphasized.

Indonesia, Prabowo noted that he has targeted to introduce Pencak Silat to more countries worldwide. 

"The traditional martial art now has been practiced in 45 states, but we are seeking to introduce the sport to other 70 countries," he explained. 

Prabowo remarked that Indonesia has planned to propose its traditional martial art to be contested at the Olympics. 

Apart from Pencak Silat, the 2018 Asian Games organizer also hosted trials for other categories, including basketball and Taekwondo this month. 

The 2018 Asian Games will be conducted from Aug 18 to Sep 2, 2018, in Jakarta and Palembang. (antaranews)