Sunday, July 31st concluded the 19th World Pencak Silat Championships. Held in the historic city of Malacca, Malaysia, this was the first champions hip since 2018 in Singapore. The World Championships is usually held every two years, but due to the pandemic, there was a four-year hiatus.
A total of over 500 exponents from 40 countries, including hosts Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, USA, Canada and Vietnam have gone head-to-head in this tournament that began on July 26. Vietnam brought the largest contingency of athletes, then Indonesia (38) and then Malaysia and India (tied with 36).
USA was represented this year by a new federation, United States Sport Association with competitor Earl Hurlburt winning bronze after winning a match with India. The USA Pencak Silat Federation brought athletes to the previous World Championships, with athlete Adam Pereira bringing home Silver medal.
Khoirudin Mustakim, a Pencak Silat fighter from Klaten, Indonesia emerged as the champion in the men’s 45-50 kg class A, and earned the title of the best male fighter in the event.
PERSILAT, the International Pencak Silat Federation implemented new rules for the first time at this World Championship. In past tournaments, grabbing the opponent was not allowed in a Pencak Silat match. The new rules also included counter-takedowns, which allows a competitor that has been taken down to subsequently take down his opponent. Although these new rules has cause quite a bit of controversy, athletes seem to have adjusted accordingly.
National silat exponents Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir and Mohd Al Jufferi Jamari have both qualified for the finals of the 2022 World Pencak Silat Championship after encountering stiff competition in their semi final matches.
The Indonesian Pencak Silat team successfully won the overall title after winning 11 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 8 bronze medals in the 2022 Pencak Silat World Championship. Malaysia and Vietnam came in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In the final two VIP matches, Mohd Al Jufferi Jamari (Malaysia) fought Iqbal Candra (Indonesia) and Hanifan YK (Indonesia) against Adilan Chemaeng (Thailand). Adilan was able to beat Hanifan, and Jufferi won his 4th World Championship medal with an emotional ending with his son Furqan Alhaq.
