KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has set a three-gold target for pencak silat at the 2014 Asean University Games (AUG) in Palembang, Indonesia in December.
National Silat team manager Azli Pudin said all exponents to the AUG would be participating in the 5th International Pencak Silat Championship (Deputy Prime Minister Cup 2014) in Ipoh, Perak from Sept 15 to 20.
“Silat exponents to the AUG will be given exposure to compete abroad to prepare them further. These outings will also enable us to assess their performance and ensure whether they are really ready at international level,” he told reporters at the pre-launch of the championship at the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) here yesterday.
A total of 37 teams will be involved in the local institution of higher learning category, 26 teams in the international institutions of higher learning and 10 teams in the youth category.
Meanwhile, former national silat exponent Mohd Khaizul Yaacob said he would be putting his best foot forward in his debut at the AUG.
Khaizul who would be competing in the Putra H category wants to prove he can be a winner in the AUG.
Azli said another gold medal could be from the men’s doubles category through Muhamad Shaiful Zakaria and Muhamad Akmal Saidin.
Muhamad Shaiful when met said he has been watching video clips from past championships to better understand his opponents.
“From the video clips, my coach and I will discuss the techniques to improve our combat,” he said. —Bernama