"This is extraordinary because Sambo has long been close to inactivity in the country. It is worth gratefulness. Moreover we were a mini contingent," the executive board chairman of the Indonesian Sambo Association, Krisna Bayu, said in a statement to media received here on Sunday.
Vincent Madjid won the gold medal after beating Kim Suh-wan from the host country in the final round 3-0 in five minutes.
The bronze medals in the +100 kg category went to Ambegoda Liyana from Sri Lanka and Chantawan Prothein from Thailand.
In the championship Indonesian Marx Xaverius won a bronze medal from a -60 kg category but Mulyo Legowo in the -74 kg combat event and Desy Rahayu in the -60 kg failed to win medals.
Roso Nugroho, Edwin Tyo, Rean and Agus Purwanto still had yet to play in the -62 kg, -74 kg, -82 kg and -100 kg categories respectively.
Sambo as one of martial arts sports has been known in Indonesia since 10 years ago but PP Persambi (the executive board of the association) has been inactive so far and been active again under the 2016-2021 board led by Jasilul Fawaid
Sambo is a sports branch from Russia and it will be competed in the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang.
In the combat event fighters wear a head guard and boxing gloves and are allowed to hit and kick while in the sport category the game is like a combination of judo and wrestling.
"The achievement at WMAM is an initial step of our plan and preparation towards Asian Games 2018. After returning from Korea we will prepare ourselves to meet the world championship in Bulgaria," deputy chairman of PP Persambi, Tommy Suhartanto, said.
With a good preparation he said he was optimistic the Indonesian athletes will be able to perform well in the Asian Games 2018.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
