Prabowo Wants To Bring Pencak Silat To The Olympics, Thanks To Jokowi For Paying Attention

Prabowo Subianto/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The General Chairperson of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (PB IPSI) Prabowo Subianto confirmed his desire to bring pencak silat into a sport to be competed in the Olympics.

"We want to bring pencak silat to the Olympics, for that we really need support from all parties. Little by little, pencak silat is being looked at, loved, studied by other nations," he said in a written statement quoted by Antara, Friday, December 17.

Prabowo was re-elected to lead IPSI for the next five years in the XV PB IPSI National Conference with the theme "Advanced Indonesia, Pencak Silat Towards the Olympics", at Aston Hotel, Sentul, Bogor, 15-18 December.

In his remarks, Prabowo acknowledged that IPSI in the future still has a tough job to do, but remains confident that the spirit of pencak silat will lift the nation's self-esteem.

"If it is true that we want to elevate pencak silat to the world level, we must work hard and do more. If we want to be strong in the world, we must learn from anyone," he said.

Prabowo emphasized that IPSI is part of Indonesia, the big family of the archipelago, the big family of Indonesia so that IPSI will continue to do things that can be felt by all Indonesian people.

Prabowo, who is also the Minister of Defense, said that President Joko Widodo had great attention to pencak silat, so he conveyed his appreciation and gratitude.

"And especially we also thank the government of the Republic of Indonesia under the leadership of President Joko Widodo for their great attention to the world of pencak silat," he said.

Prabowo also conveyed his gratitude to regional heads, both governors and regents/mayors for their support and development of pencak silat in their regions.

Prabowo again reminded the spirit of pencak silat as a national culture so that no one should think that pencak silat is just a sport.

"Pencak silat is the practice of Yudha. In English it is called martial arts, martial means yudha, military. After all, the nation's 'survival' from thousands of years lies in the nation's ability to defend itself," he explained.

"This is where the task of pencak silat, from our predecessors, is that through pencak silat we educate morals, personality, body and soul. Sport too, soul (culture, personality)," concluded Prabowo.