The Indian Pencak Silat team comprising of 36 players both men and women, including eight players from J&K remained among the top ten at the World level by clinching seven bronze medals in the 19th World Championship Pencak Silat which concluded in Malaysia yesterday.
The national Pencak Silat contingent comprising of 42 members both men and women, coaches and staff from across the country including 8 players and 3 coaches from UT of J&K was flagged-off by Manoj Sinha, the Lt. Governor Jammu and Kashmir, on 24th of last month from Raj Bhawan Srinagar.The national team had trained under battery of coaches in a 21 days long coaching camp in Srinagar.
The players who bagged the medals for the country include Suraj Sharma ( Delhi ) securing bronze in solo creative male, Disha Reddy ( Madhya Pradesh) securing bronze in solo creative female in Artistic category while in Tanding (fighting) category Rahul Saini ( Rajasthan) (Class C)-, Arti kumari. (Bihar- SSB) (Class G), Madhu Kumari (Himachal Pradesh- SSB) (class E), G. Shantilaxmi (Puducherry) (Class H), Aqsa Gulzar (J&K ) (class open 2) secured one bronze medal each.
The championship was inaugurated on 26th July by Governor of the Melika Province Data Mohammad Ali Rustum and in the closing ceremony the Prime minister of Malaysia Dato' Sri-Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob was the chief guest and he also gave away the awards to the winners.
Mohammed Iqbal and Irfan Aziz from Union Territory of J&K accompanied the national team as coaches and Mufti Hamid Yasin was the Team manager.Secretary YSS and Secretary Sports Council while congratulating the national team said, everyone is excited on the performance of national Pencak Silat team. Team has put up a good display and produced a great result in the event and maintained rank among the top ten at the world arena.
Pertinently in the 18th edition of World Pencak Silat Championship held in Singapore Indian Pencak Silat teams had secured 4 medals and stood at 10 position in the event. In today's championship team has improved its rank by climbing to 7th rank in the championship which is the best for the the players at the World level.
Mohhammad Iqbal, team coach expressed hope that we will do best in the forthcoming Senior Asian Championship as well as World Beach Pencak Silat Championship 2022 which will be held in Cebu- Philipines later this year.
The team was cleared by Ministry of Youth affairs and sports Government of India and the national coaching camp which was held in Srinagar was jointly organised by the Jammu and Kashmir sports council as well as Indian Pencak Silat Federation.