We expect that the achievements that pencak silat (athletes) won can be repeated once again at the Vietnam SEA Games.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian contingent's Chef de Mission (CdM) iin a statement here on Saturday said he expected pencak silat to be the first sports branch in which Indonesia would strike gold at the Vietnam SEA Games.



"We expect that the first gold for Indonesia at the Vietnam SEA Games would be bagged by the pencak silat athletes," Ferry J. Kono remarked after seeing off the pencak silat team at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten.



At least 31 people, comprising 21 athletes and 10 officials from the pencak silat sports branch, left for Vietnam on Saturday. They will compete at the SEA Games at Bac Tu Liem Sporting Hall, Hanoi, on May 10, 2022.


Related news: Indonesia seeks to retain women's shot put at SEA Games

The men's team, women's team, and the men's doubles team in the artistic category will compete for the medal on the same day.



The expectation conveyed by Kono is not without reason given that pencak silat has been Indonesia's trump card at various multi-sport events.



In the previous edition of the SEA Games in the Philippines in 2019, the Indonesian pencak silat team won two golds, three silvers, and two bronzes.



During the 2018 SEA Games in Jakarta-Palembang, the pencak silat team managed to bag 14 golds and one bronze medal.


Related news: Indonesia's soccer, rowing teams depart for 31st SEA Games

"We expect that the achievements that pencak silat (athletes) won can be repeated once again at the Vietnam SEA Games," Kono remarked.



The pencak silat team’s manager, Maryatno, informed that the athletes are in peak form and are ready to bring glory to Indonesia's name.



"There are 21 athletes. Our target is to win a gold medal. They are ready to fight in order to promote Indonesia's name," he said.



When it comes to opposing teams, the toughest to beat will be those from Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore, he added.



Overall, the Indonesian contingent for the Vietnam SEA Games comprises 499 athletes, who will compete in 32 of the 40 sports branches featured at the competition.


Related news: Indonesia dominates in speed event at IFSC Climbing World Cup

Related news: SEA Games: PBESI to award Rp7-bln bonus to gold medalists

Translator: Muhammad Ramdan, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022