MALACCA (30/7/2022): The fourth day of the 19th World Pencak Silat Championship witnessed some exhilarating action at Ayer Keroh as the national silat contingent continued to lit up the stage with notable wins over their respective opponents.
Malaysian National Silat Federation’s (PESAKA) aim in acquiring seven gold medals is on its verge to reality as stalwarts, Siti Rahmah Mohamed Nasir, Mohd Al Juferi Jamari and Muhammad Robial Sobri accompanied three national silat exponents from the women’s category to progress to the World Championship finals.
Using her vast experience throughout the match, Siti Rahmah, the 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2018 world champion easily tamed her opponent from Singapore, Nur Shaqira Sheik Alau’ddin in the Class F (70-75kg) category.
Attacking at her best, the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games champion scrimmaged to a 15-0 lead in the first-round while allowing her Singaporean opponent to only gain a point in the second round to go 23-1 ahead.
Though Nur Shaqira clawed back to regain her momentum, Siti Rahmah, the 35-year-old national fighter who hails from Terengganu faced no problem in overcoming her opponent in the heated third round by taking her down with a score of 38-16.
Siti Rahmah is expected to face Vietnam’s Quang Thi Thu Nghia in the finals tomorrow. Both these exponents have an experience of sparring with each another as Quang Thi Thu Nghia has defeated Siti Rahmah in last May’s Hanoi SEA games.
“Tomorrow, my friends and I will give our best to win a gold medal for Malaysia. We pledge all Malaysians to keep showering us with your love and support. “I lost to that Vietnamese fighter in the SEA Games. That was our first meeting and I owe her a revenge” she said.
On the other hand, Mohd. Al Juferi continued his quest for his fourth gold medal in the World Championships after defeating Algeria’s newcomer Zetout Abdelmalek 48-17 in the Men’s Class F (70-75kg) category. Al Juferi is expected to face Indonesia’s powerhouse fighter, Iqbal Chandra Pratama in tomorrow’s finals.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Robial was too superior for Earl Hurlburt as the newcomer fighter from the United States failed to reap his chances which saw him losing 47-14. Muhammad Robial is expected to meet Singapore’s Muhammad Nurshahfareeq Shahrudin in the Class I (85-90kg) category.
Four other women national silat exponents joined the contingent’s pre-finals party as they confirmed their spots in the finals.
Nor Farah Mazlan advanced in style as she overcame her opponent from Indonesia, Dinda Nuraidha 73-55 in the Class A (45-50kg) category while Siti Shazwana Ajak won 59-19 against Vietnam’s Dao Thi Hong Nhung in the Class D (60-65kg) category.
Elite exponent, Olivia Chong defeated Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Tra My 29-25 in the Open Class 1 (85-100kg) category. In the female Open 2 category, Nor Izzatul Fazlia defeated Thailand’s Suwichada Pruphetkaew 33-27 to qualify to tomorrow’s final.
On the downside, Malaysia’s gallant run in the fourth day of the championship’s “tanding” category was brought to end when Mohd Fauzi Khalid lost 86-93 in the Class G (75-80kg) category to Thailand’s Suthat Bunchit while Muhammad Akma Danish Mohd. Amirul lost 30-49 to Singapore’s Dhani Andika in the under 45kg category.
Amanisaudah Yahaya also ran out of aggression in the semi-finals after losing to Indonesia’s Fransiska Sandra Dewi 23-28 in the Class H (80-85kg) category while Nur Syazerra Hidayah Idris lost to Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Mai Lan in the Class B (50-55kg) category.
Class J (90-95kg) fighter Mohamad Firdaus Latib withdrew prior to the competition due to a torn thigh muscle injury while offering a victory to Singapore’s Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin.
The 19th World Pencak Silat Championship, which has a participation entry from 40 nations across the globe is scheduled to reach its climax tomorrow.
