Indonesia’s pencak silat team eyes four gold medals at SEA Games 31
Indonesia’s national pencak silat team is confident of winning four gold medals at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) to be hosted by Vietnam this month.
Members of the organising committee checks Bac Tu Liem Gymnasium, the venue of pencak silat at SEA Games 31. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesia’s national pencak silat team is confident of winning four gold medals at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) to🌱 be hosted by Vietnam this month, according to the Organising Committee.
The Indonesian martial artists are training hard to realise the target set by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
In an interview, coach Indro Catur of the national team said they are closely following training plan and working hard to maintain their stamina, skills and form for upcoming competitions.
Friendlies were organised late March in order to prepare for the SEA Games and evaluate the team’s strengths and weaknesses prior to official matches.
Indonesia secured two golds in pencak silat and most of the medals of the martial art at SEA Games 30 in the Philippines that only hosted nine events. This year, athletes will vie for gold medals across 16 events, which is deemed an advantage for Indonesia, the birthplace of the martial art.
SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held in the capital city of Hanoi and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23.
The Games will feature over 40 sports, and 526 events with the attendance of some 10,000 athletes and officials from 11 Southeast Asian countries.
This will be the second time that Vietnam has hosted the Games, after the first in 2003./.
As one of Vietnam's strong points in all regional competitions, the pencak silat team is expected to win seven gold medals at the upcoming SEA Games, although it will be a tough task.
It is the first time that the country is to hold a G1-level tournament which is expected to lure more than 100 athletes of 15 countries and regions at Go Vap Gymnasium.
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The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
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The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
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Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
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The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
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The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
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This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Members of the organising committee checks Bac Tu Liem Gymnasium, the venue of pencak silat at SEA Games 31. (Photo: VNA)
